中文
By Timothy Kerswell
China's ongoing 15th National Games, which brought together over 20,000 athletes competing in 34 competitive sports and 23 mass-participation disciplines, have provided an excellent window into the country's evolving sports landscape. The event also reflects a new stage in China's development, marked by a wider talent pool that is driving national progress and elevating domestic competition levels.
Notably, the 15th National Games are the first to be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao – another milestone in cross-border cooperation as a shared organization of venues, logistics and public events becomes a show of greater national unity and integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Years of sustained policy focus have produced more venues, expanded sports education and stronger mass fitness programs, according to analysts of China's sports development. These efforts have elevated competitive standards across provinces and deepened the foundation on which standout performance is built.
Swimming offered some of the clearest evidence of athletic depth at the National Games. Zhejiang's Pan Zhanle and Hebei's Li Bingjie delivered headline performances, underscoring the strength of China's systematic training approach and steady progress of provincial sports development.
Upgraded sports science programs and enhanced provincial training bases now give athletes access to strength-and-conditioning labs, underwater video analysis suites and biomechanical monitoring – tools that refine technique and sharpen race execution across the swimming system.
Meanwhile, the host region has strengthened its infrastructure through the renovation of 23 competition venues, improving facilities for both elite competition and long-term public fitness. Together, these investments show how long-term, strategic planning rather than short-term bursts of success is driving consistent performance gains in China.
Away from the pool, this year's National Games has also delivered outstanding performances across multiple sports. The men's singles table tennis final was won by Fan Zhendong in a tightly contested match against Lin Shidong, a young up-and-comer. Weightlifter Peng Cuiting's big total in her category was a reminder of China's long-standing dominance in weightlifting. The same was true in track events, where the men's 800m final was won by a Zhejiang athlete in national-record time, featuring strong competition from runners hailing from a number of provinces.
Many athletes competing at this year's Games are also products of grassroots programs that were rolled out under the National Fitness Plan, showing how mass participation is increasingly integrated with elite development pathways. This alignment of community fitness, school sports and high-performance training continues to underpin China's sporting trajectory over the long term. Results can be seen across major competitions, as shown in verified medal data.
Supporting infrastructure has also been added at the local level to facilitate these objectives over the years. Statistics show that by 2024, China counted more than 4.84 million sports venues covering 4.23 billion square meters – more than double the 2013 figures.
Cities like Hangzhou and Shenzhen now feature dense clusters of fitness trails, sports courts and public exercise spaces. Several National Games venues, such as athletics tracks and swimming centers upgraded for the event, were also opened up to local residents immediately after the Games, illustrating how elite sports facilities can also serve community fitness needs.
The talent pipeline has also been strengthened by reforms in China's education system, including expanded school sports hours and improved campus competition structures outlined in recent policy measures. Young competitors who advanced from campus leagues into provincial teams made their mark at this year's Games, reflecting the growing importance of school-based pathways.
Mass participation is broadening and deepening. China's sixth national fitness monitoring and evaluation campaign was launched this year, with plans to expand the national health survey in scale, quality and application. Participation data shows rising engagement in rural counties, where township sports centers have provided access to organized physical activity.
The boom in outdoor sports has also been accompanied by explosive development in domestic outdoor sports equipment brands, fitness coaching services, and online training platforms. In 2023, China's sports industry's total output value was around 3.67 trillion yuan (approximately $503 billion), with an added value of around 1.49 trillion yuan. The outdoor sports and fitness services sector is expected to maintain strong momentum, fueled by increasing health awareness and public investment.
Technology is also driving the shift in China's sporting landscape. Artificial intelligence (AI)-supported timing systems and digital judging tools were used across several National Games events this year, showing how technology is enhancing performance analysis and officiating.
Smart wearables, AI coaching applications and digital fitness platforms have become part of everyday training, as robots, autonomous vehicles and high-tech products are deployed at this year's Games. The shared-hosting framework in the GBA further accelerated the adoption of integrated digital systems across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
Taken together, these developments provide a comprehensive picture of China's athletic progress. The National Games are more than a competition; they are a national indicator of both public and elite participation. This year's event demonstrates how far China has come in building a sports culture that strengthens performance, public health and long-term economic vitality.
As new venues continue to be added, as youth engagement rises and as technological innovation accelerates, China's progress towards building a strong sports nation will only become clearer. The National Games show where China has been and what has been achieved. The Games, as both a stage and a stress test for the national sporting system, show the scale of progress already achieved and hint at the greater potential still ahead.
Timothy Kerswell, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a distinguished research fellow at the Development Watch Centre in Kampala, Uganda.
