From Sports Popularity to Economic Growth: Building China-LAC Bridges

Editor's Note: Sports have long been a powerful bond connecting people across cultures and continents. In late July this year, a group of Latin American guests gathered in Beijing to explore the theme "From Sports Popularity to Economic Growth." At the heart of these exchanges was a shared belief: sport is not only about competition, but also about values, community, and opportunity. It is about shaping lives, fostering inclusion, and creating lasting development. In this edition of The Hub, Wang Guan hosts a panel of officials, academics and entrepreneurs from China and Latin America to discuss how grassroots participation can build stronger systems, how philanthropy and corporate responsibility can create sustainable models, and how international cooperation in sports can bridge cultures while strengthening economic ties. Panelists also shared experiences from Latin America, from Uruguay's deep-rooted football culture to Brazil's "football for peace" programs and Nicaragua's growing investment in sports infrastructure. Wang Guan also talks with Daniel Pérez Sequeira, co-president of the Nicaraguan Sports Association, and philanthropist Li Tian, to look into the power of sports to inspire and drive both social and economic change in vulnerable communities, especially young people and women.