The Paris 2024 Olympics has caused a significant increase in participation in sports across China.
The Olympics may have finally ended, but its legacy has only just started in China. Across the country, there has been a massive increase in interest in sports thanks to the Olympics.
Data from the Chinese shopping platform Meituan showed that interest has spiked for many sports.
Searches related to archery have increased by 40% and swimming pools by 30% since July. Even the already exceptionally popular badminton has drawn more interest thanks to the Olympics, with a 90% increase in orders related to it.
Niche sports newly introduced to the Olympics have also been popular. The search volume for breakdance surged by around 107% compared to the same time last year. Meanwhile, searches for indoor climbing gyms have increased by 62% from a year earlier.
Tennis has seen a particular jump, caused by the historic results brought home by China at Paris 2024.
Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu managed to bring home a silver medal in the tennis mixed doubles. Zheng Qinwen went one better defeating Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-2 and 6-3 to take home a tennis singles gold medal. These are the best results in tennis at the Olympics in China’s history.
Data from Meituan showed tennis experience classes and tennis training packages are among its top sellers. Group-buying orders related to tennis have jumped by 172 percent year-on-year since July. Even the sales of tennis skirts have skyrocketed.
Zhang, who works at a Beijing tennis academy, told the Global Times that interest and enrolment has increased thanks to Olympic fever.
“The Chinese tennis team’s impressive performance at the Olympics generated widespread attention, and star athletes, such as Zheng Qinwen, are setting inspiring examples for tennis enthusiasts, particularly among young people, and are poised to boost the sport’s popularity”
The same is true across the country according to the Science and Technology Daily newspaper. In Nanning, the capital of China’s southern province Guanxi, Tennis coach Huang Ciliang said Zheng Qinwen has had a big effect.
“After Zheng Qinwen won the championship, the number of applicants has increased significantly, and everyone’s passion for playing tennis has also increased.”
For many, this is just a chance to try out a new hobby, meet new people, and stay in shape.
However, at Muxiyuan Sports Centre in Shanghai, you can see where this inspiration leads for some. There, according to AFP, children are practicing their dives. Some are already leaping from 10-meter-high platforms as their coaches look on.
Here, coaches will narrow down athletes, picking those who have the potential to compete.
Amongst the potentials is 12-year-old Zhang Jiarui. Her parents had led her to gymnastics, but when watching the Chinese divers at Tokyo 2020 Olympics she “fell in love”.
Her goal is to train hard, and join her fellow divers at the Olympics.
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