Yutang Weekly: What happened in the Chinese sports market (8/19-8/25)

Chinese government to offer policy support to Shenzhen’s sports development

On August 18, the State Council of the People's Republic of China recently published an opinion piece outlining their support to Shenzhen in order to become the country’s demonstration zone serving as an example of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Opinion outlines the many goals that the government expects Shenzhen to fulfil, while providing policy support to help Shenzhen reach these targets.

On the sports front, the government will support Shenzhen in the hosting of large-scale international sports events and the building of training centers for national sports teams. 

Chinese Education Ministry announces 2019 list of specialized football kindergartens

The Chinese Ministry of Education has published results of selected specialized football kindergartens across the country, with 3,570 kindergartens from 31 provinces and cities around the country on the list. 

The number of each province and city's kindergartens vary from around 20 to over 200. Some provinces such as Shandong, Sichuan, Fujian and Henan, all have over 200 kindergartens selected. Others have fewer. For example, Hunan has 80, Yunan 68, Ningxia 64 and Hebei 62. Beijing has 84, Shanghai 107, Chongqing 98 and Tianjin 81.

EF Education First becomes Official Language Training Services Exclusive Supplier of Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics

On August 20, the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee held a press conference announcing that EF Education First has become the Official Language Training Services Exclusive Supplier of the 2022 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Having entered the Chinese market more than two decades ago, EF Education First has helped millions of Chinese learners improve their English skills. EF Education First served as the language training services supplier at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, and has since taken on the language training services of multiple Olympic Games. EF Education First will draw on their past experiences of serving the Olympic Games, and will provide language training services to Chinese staff, technical officials and volunteers during the preparation stages of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Natural mineral water brand Alps sign three-year partnership with BWF

As the 2019 TOTAL BWF World Championships is being played in Basel, Switzerland, the natural mineral water brand Alps and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) held a signing ceremony in Basel announcing that they have struck a three-year official partnership. Alps now become the official partner to BWF major events and World Tour Finals with Alps also providing safe drinking water to these events.

Chen Xuyuan elected President of Chinese Football Association

On August 22, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) held its 11th membership conference at the Xianghe National Football Training Center, where a new team of Executive Committee members,  President and Vice Presidents of the CFA were elected.

Chen Xuyuan, formerly President of the Shanghai International Port Group, was elected  the new President of the CFA, and Du Zhaocai, Sun Wen and Gao Hongbo were elected Vice Presidents.

Chengdu aims to build RBM 150 billion sports industry over next five years

On August 22, Chengdu drew up a plan to significantly grow its sports industry. According to the plan, the city aims to establish itself as a place that attracts international sports events and becomes a popular destination for sports tourism. 

Several figures mentioned in the plan are especially interesting. By 2025, Chengdu will grow at least 3 publicly listed sports companies, build at least 10 national level sports industrial bases, 20 provincial level and 50 city level sports industry demonstration projects, and the total value of the sports industry in Chengdu will be worth RMB 150 billion.

China Development Report of National Pilot Base of Sport Industry (2017-2018) released

On August 22, the Development Report of National Pilot Base of Sport Industry (2017–2018) was released at a conference in Chengdu.

National Pilot Bases of Sports have received much attention from the government, and are expected to help the sports industry grow larger throughout the country by serving as pilot or demonstration projects.

Migu to livestream 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup

On August 23, Migu, the digital content services subsidiary of China’s telecommunications giant China Mobile, have struck a deal with Tencent, FIBA’s exclusive digital media partner in China, granting Migu the rights to stream all of Team China’s games at the 2019 Basketball FIBA World Cup, as well as the rights to stream some of the World Cup games in high-definition or 4K signals. The deal also makes Migu the only telecommunications streaming platform in mainland China allowed to livestream the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup games.

LaLiga and Chinese Football Association officially launch GoalFuture

The Spanish professional football league LaLiga have signed an agreement with the Chinese Football Association to jointly launch a program called ‘GoalFuture’ aimed at creating elite footballers and a coach development system. The two parties will also use the program to strengthen cooperation and boost the development of grassroots football in China.