China's 15th National Games: Sport emerging as a new arena for growth

As China's 15th National Games draws to a close, it's difficult not to marvel at what has been a truly memorable edition. On the ground, there was no shortage of emotion, drama or world-class action. 

There were farewells for some legends as shot putter Gong Lijiao, sprinter Su Bingtian and shuttler He Bingjiao, among others, hung up their boots. Veteran paddler Ma Long finally added the National Games team gold that had been missing from his packed trophy cabinet. 

The table tennis women's singles final saw a repeat of the world championships final in Qatar from six months ago, in which Sun Yingsha had edged out friend and rival Wang Manyu by the narrowest of margins in a seven-game thriller. Only this time, Wang came out victorious in another dramatic encounter between the two stars. 

For the 13-year-old swimming sensation Yu Zidi, it was an unforgettable fortnight as she bagged five medals and broke an Asian record. From Quan Hongchan to Pan Zhanle, China's best athletes put on a show over the course of the 15th National Games.

Deepening GBA integration

There was more to the Games than the action of the field, though. At its best, sport forges unity. That Guangdong Province and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao came together to seamlessly host the National Games was a powerful demonstration of the deepening integration within the Greater Bay Area (GBA) as well as China's unique "One Country, Two Systems" at play.

The Games added a new layer of foundation for boosting exchanges while, at the same time, showcasing the region's ability to host major multidisciplinary events. According to China Daily, over 100,000 tickets were sold within a week after sales opened in August, with the figure exceeding 200,000 by September, garnering a revenue of over $7.7 million.

On November 18, China Media Group reported that official National Games merchandise sales had surpassed 680 million yuan (around $95.7 million). The GBA saw a surge in tourists as host cities rolled out the red carpet for visitors. Guangzhou's local attractions alone offered around a million discounted or complimentary tickets, a demonstration of how sports and tourism can be integrated to boost the local economy.

Sport's growing role

With some of the world's most renowned athletic talents in action over the past fortnight, the 15th National Games underscored China's rise as a major sporting power. Over the years, China's performances at major multidisciplinary events have underscored its rapid progress in the field of sports. 

The Paris Olympics last year saw China register its best-ever return at the Summer Olympics in an edition hosted outside of China, while Beijing 2022 was China's most successful performance at the Winter Olympics.

To an outside observer, this only tells a small part of the story, however. Medals at major international events do carry a lot of prestige, but China's promotion of sport has more to do with the well-being of its people and society rather than it being a single-minded pursuit of Olympic glory.

For instance, China's application of "one PE class per day" in compulsory education has given sport a central role in its schools, with the focus on improving the physical and mental health of its children.

The data available so far shows that it is already bearing fruit. Shenzhen reported in February 2025 that within a year of its implementation, myopia rates among its children and adolescents fell by 1.2 percentage points, while measures of overall physical fitness excellence rose by 6 percentage points.

China's national plan will allow children in primary and middle schools to engage in physical activities for at least two hours every day. 

The rural success stories

In recent years, sport has also started to play a noteworthy role in China's rural revitalization. The best examples are the wildly popular Village Super League (VSL) and Village BA in Guizhou Province.

Last year, the VSL football competition drew in 11.69 million tourists to Guizhou's Rongjiang County while raking in a total of 78 billion views online. It generated $13.07 billion in tourism revenue for the area. 

Similarly, the Village BA basketball competition in Guizhou's Taipan Village saw the area welcome 3.6 million visitors in 2024 and generate 4.2 billion yuan in revenue.

The popularity of these tournaments has sparked plans for new competitions. VSL organizers, for instance, plan to host a World Cup-style competition for football enthusiasts from around the globe in 2028.

As China continues its development journey, its view of sport is also evolving. Sport in China today is about building community, boosting public health and becoming a new arena for the country's growth.