The Evolution of Urban Society and Social Changes in Sports Participation At the Grassroots in China

Abstract

Since the 1980s the `economic reformation' 1 has played a crucial role in leading China to a fundamental change in every aspect of its society. This change accelerated a new process of urbanization. In conjunction with the vigorous economic, political and social transformations caused by urbanization, sport in China has undergone a comprehensive process of industrialization, commercialization, decentralization and privatization (Wu, 1999). Urbanization has changed the infrastructure of sport, sports values and forms of participation. Against this background, sports participation in China has emerged with new spaces, forms, contents and concepts. Although elite sport has still been tightly controlled by the state as a political instrument, sport and exercise at the grassroots has become an individual and social activity as a new feature in Chinese urban life. The Chinese people have benefited from increased opportunities and have made great progress in sports participation.