China views sports industry as new growth driver in next five years

BEIJING -- China seeks to further boost the sports industry with continued government support in terms of planning, construction and funding over the next five years, as it sees this burgeoning sector as a new driver for economic growth.

According to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planner, promoting the development of the sports industry and outdoor sports will feature in the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and other specific development plans.

The NDRC will also work with the General Administration of Sport of China to jointly formulate new development plans for the outdoor sports industry to ensure that policies supporting the sector's development are further improved, said Chen Jun, head of the NDRC's Department of Social Development, at a press conference held in Beijing on Tuesday.

By 2030, the nation aims to build around 100 high-quality outdoor sports destinations -- which will be equipped with comprehensive facilities that can provide high-quality services and host diverse sports events, Chen said, while adding that support will be given to regions with superior resource endowments and solid sectoral development to build world-class outdoor sports destinations.

"We will increase support by utilizing central government funding and other funds, such as the sports lottery public welfare funds, for qualified outdoor sports venues as well as related public service facilities," Chen said.

The government will also encourage financial institutions to increase credit support for outdoor sports business entities and attract more private capital to jointly develop the outdoor sports industry, she noted.