In 2024, China achieved remarkable success in sports, highlighted by Chinese swimmers winning gold at the World Aquatics Championships, a historic performance at the Paris Olympics, including gold medals in artistic swimming and diving, and the establishment of various youth and fitness initiatives. President Xi Jinping acknowledged these accomplishments, emphasizing their reflection of China’s modernization efforts. Additionally, strategic plans for sports economy growth and youth engagement marked significant developments.
On December 27, 2024, Xinhua News Agency provided a selection of the top ten significant sports news events from China throughout the year. Notably, Chinese swimmers achieved remarkable success by winning seven gold medals and setting a new world record at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha in February. The year continued with outstanding performances at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Pan Zhanle shattered his own world record in the men’s 100m freestyle and led the men’s 4x100m medley relay to victory, ending the United States’ decade-long winning streak in this event.
China made history by winning its first-ever Olympic gold in artistic swimming, securing gold medals in both the team and duet categories, along with a complete sweep of all eight diving gold medals. February also witnessed the 14th National Winter Games taking place in Inner Mongolia, marking the first major national winter sports event following the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, with an emphasis on mass participation in winter sports.
In May, China restored its badminton dominance by winning the Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup for the 11th and 16th time, respectively. The National Fitness Competition commenced on May 20 in Shenyang, engaging over two million participants in nearly 100 sports activities, demonstrating the growing interest in fitness and mass sports.
Further enhancing China’s reputation in tennis, Zheng Qinwen made history on August 3 by becoming the first Asian athlete to secure the Olympic women’s singles gold medal. She also earned a runner-up position at the Australian Open and WTA Finals. Other significant tennis achievements included an Olympic silver medal in mixed doubles by Wang Xinyu and Zhang Zhizhen, while Shang Juncheng emerged as the first player born after 2005 to break into the ATP top 50.
President Xi Jinping recognized the efforts of the Chinese sports delegation on August 20, applauding their performance and noting that their achievements reflected the advancements in China’s sports development and modernization. The Chinese delegation amassed an impressive tally of 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze medals, marking their best-ever results at an overseas Olympics. Moreover, at the Paris Paralympics, China dominated the medal tally with 220 medals, consisting of 94 golds, thus achieving the top position for the sixth consecutive time.
A report titled “The Road to Becoming a Sports Powerhouse” was published by the Xinhua Institute on August 27, elucidating the significance of President Xi’s discourses on sports and the resultant achievements in Chinese athletics. Following this, a strategic plan was laid out on November 6, indicating a vision to establish the ice and snow economy in China, aiming for a lucrative scale of approximately 1.2 trillion yuan by 2027.
The first national youth games in football, basketball, and volleyball took place from November 20 to 28, aiming to enhance youth engagement in sports. Additionally, on December 16, the State Council emphasized revitalizing the football industry as part of efforts to strengthen China’s sports stature. Lastly, in November, guidelines were issued to foster national unity through sports, coinciding with the 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities held in Hainan, featuring nearly 7,000 athletes.
This article summarizes significant developments in Chinese sports throughout 2024, a year marked by numerous achievements across various sports disciplines. From the World Aquatics Championships to the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, China showcased immense talent and dedication. This year also highlighted various initiatives aimed at increasing public participation in sports, promoting youth engagement, and strengthening the overall sports economy, reflecting a cultural and national shift towards athletic excellence and inclusivity.
In conclusion, the year 2024 proved to be monumental for Chinese sports, characterized by a series of stellar performances and groundbreaking achievements in various athletic arenas. From individual accolades at the Olympics to collective successes in national competitions, China has solidified its position as a formidable force in global sports. The efforts to promote youth sports and the burgeoning ice and snow economy signify a strategic focus on future growth and inclusivity in athletics, paving the way for continued excellence in years to come.
Original Source: english.news.cn
