China’s sports industry showed strong growth and resilience, achieving an annual output of 3.6741 trillion yuan (approximately 503 billion U.S. dollars) by 2023. The incredible figure released by the National Bureau of Statistics and the General Administration of Sport of China on December 4, 2024, is direct evidence that the sector is making significant contributions to the national economy. The industry’s added value increased to 1.49 trillion yuan, representing 1.15 percent of the country’s GDP and a rise of 0.07 percentage points compared to last year.
China’s sports industry’s excellent performance vibrantly portrays the country’s continuous and effective efforts in promoting national physical culture and sports practice. The given expansion is quite impressive considering the global economic upheavals which crippled violent sectors of the world. The sports industry’s strength against challenges has several driving forces: the support of the government, the growing interest of the public in sports and fitness, and the success of the hosting of major sports events.
The main locomotive of the sector’s growth has been the marathon and road running segment. In 2024, China will host 671 marathons and road running races with 6.56 million people who are as engaged as ever. The 31 provincial-level regions, 261 cities, and 537 districts and counties witnessed these events, implying the high popularity of the activity across the whole country. Actually, the immense attendance of international marathons and road running races can help the sports industry not only raise its economic level but also further affirm the relationship between sports and public health.
China has put in place massive investments in sports infrastructure; one of the most attractive aspects has been the growth in the economy. The arsenals of tournaments, including the forthcoming 9th Asian Winter Games, deserve credit for increasing the growth of a sector that is already developing rapidly. The sector that is highly conspicuous now quantifies its worth and societal impacts as the confluence of China’s sports and economic fields with more urban development and national respect in the global arena of sports.