Centenary celebrations going the extra mile

Money spinner

The success of the relay comes as little surprise considering both Shanghai and Zhejiang boast a rich sports tradition, fast-growing sports economies and massive grassroots sports populations.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China under the leadership of the CPC, a total of 13 Olympians from Shanghai have won 19 Olympic gold medals, while 400 Shanghai natives have been crowned world champions across a vast array of sports. In the last five years, Shanghai has organized over 700 major domestic and international sports events.

According to 2019 data from the city's sports bureau, 43.7 percent of Shanghai's population regularly participate in sports activities. Shanghai's total sports industry was valued at over 178 billion yuan ($27 billion) in 2019, growing at an average rate of 18 percent since 2014.

Zhejiang boasts 12 Olympic champions with 18 Olympic golds. Official statistics show that about 42 percent of the province's population regularly participates in sports. In addition, it is the home to 11 national sports industry bases, with its sports industry valued at 261.5 billion yuan and comprised of over 36,000 companies. The province is also preparing to host the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

"Sports can be an indicator of a nation's overall strength, and sports development is closely connected to a country's overall development. Under the leadership of the CPC, Zhejiang's sports sector has experienced tremendous development for the past century along with social and economic growth," said Zheng Yao, the director of Zhejiang Sports Bureau.

"To facilitate sports development, we have been exploring new methods and have achieved great results in competitive sports, grassroots fitness and the sports industry.

"Sports can also greatly benefit people's lives, of course. The healthier people are, the more power a society can harness for its overall development. We should provide people with the best quality and most convenient sports service via a variety of methods."