China’s $980 Billion Game Plan: Building a World-Class Sports Industry

China has unveiled an ambitious plan to nearly double the size of its sports industry to 7 trillion yuan (US$980 billion) by 2030, positioning it as a key driver of domestic consumption and economic growth. A new 20-point directive from the State Council outlines efforts to promote low-altitude sports, boost the “ice and snow economy,” and create globally recognized Chinese sports brands and events. With grassroots leagues already gaining national attention, authorities see sports as a powerful engine of economic vitality, aiming to elevate the sector from its 2023 value of 3.67 trillion yuan to almost twice that scale within the next decade.