China plans to expand the scale of its sports industry to at least 7 trillion yuan (about US$1 trillion) over the next five years, turning to sporting events, outdoor activities and fitness spending to boost consumption and support local economies.
The fresh target was detailed by officials at a press conference on Thursday as part of Beijing’s 15th five-year plan for the sports sector, and the goal represents a big jump from the 3.84 trillion yuan recorded in 2024, according to the most recent data.
China’s General Administration of Sport said the country would cultivate home-grown event brands, improve the spectator experience, and use competitions to stimulate spending across dining, accommodation, transport, tourism, retail and entertainment.
Policymakers were also betting that the expansion would create jobs and support a broader commercial ecosystem centred on sporting events.
The plan comes as Beijing seeks to stimulate consumption and employment, aiming to offset a prolonged property downturn and persistently weak household spending that continue to weigh on local government revenue, the job market and national economic growth.
Unlike one-off purchases of subsidised consumer goods, participation in sports can generate recurring spending on training, equipment, travel and entertainment. Meanwhile, relatively inexpensive local competitions can draw spectators into restaurants, hotels, shops and tourist attractions.
The Jiangsu Football City League has offered an early example of the model that policymakers hope to replicate. Last year, in its inaugural season, the provincial league staged 85 matches and attracted more than 2.43 million spectators, while relatively low ticket prices and rivalries between the province’s 13 cities helped turn matches into wider tourism and shopping occasions.