China’s Changing AttitudesToward Youth Sports中国青少年体育教育理念之变

In the past， traditional ideas about the value of academic education meant that scholarly pursuits were prized for young people. Since China has a very challenging university entrance exam， teens have typically spent a great deal of their time studying for it.

过去，看重学术教育的传统观念鼓励年轻人重视学业成绩。由于中国高考难度极大，青少年一般要投入大量时间备战高考。

Parents tend to strongly promote school achievement as it’s a major mode for improving the family’s fortunes and the main way to climb the social ladder. This also led to a huge industry for extracurricular tutoring centres for students to help them improve their knowledge and performance in school subjects. As a result， there wasn’t much time for sports， and they were even shunned at times as a distraction from important study time.

家长们往往大力推崇学业成绩，因为这是改变家庭命运的重要方式，也是实现阶级跃迁的主要途径。对学业成绩的重视催生了一个庞大的产业——各类课外培训机构给学生补习学校科目知识，帮助他们提高各门功课的成绩。因此，学生没有多少时间进行体育活动，而且有时他们不愿意运动，觉得这会占用宝贵的学习时间。

But some major shifts have taken place in the last few years and attitudes toward sports， especially for children and teens， have changed dramatically. How and why has this happened？

近年来，上述局面出现了若干重大转变，人们对体育的态度，尤其是对青少年体育的态度，有了巨大变化。转变是如何发生的？为什么会发生？

Policy shifts related to education and homework

教育和作业相关政策转变

China’s Ministry of Education implemented its Double Reduction Policy in late July 2021. The aim of the policy was to reduce the burden placed on students by large amounts of homework and after-school tutoring.

2021年7月下旬，中国教育部宣布施行“双减”政策。这一政策旨在减轻大量作业和校外培训给学生造成的负担。

Private tutoring centres， both online and offline， were strictly curtailed. Centres were no longer allowed to teach school subjects or open on weekends and school holidays. They were also only allowed to use non-profit business models and large tutoring companies were not allowed to have IPOs. Excessive exams were also banned.

线上和线下的私立培训机构受到严格限制，不得再辅导学校科目，也不得在周末和学校放假期间开课。这类机构只能以非营利性商业模式运营，而且大型培训公司不得公开募股上市。此外，禁止过度考试。

With these changes， China has seen a major shift in attitudes toward sports， especially toward young people involved in active activities.

随着种种变化的出现，中国对体育的态度也发生了重大转变，尤其是对青少年定期参与体育活动的态度。

An increased focus on physical education and sports

更加注重体育和运动

With tutoring centres closing down in the country， many have turned to become sporting centres for children. Zhou Jinyao， deputy director of the Youth Sports Department of the State Sports General Administration， mentioned that the Double Reduction Policy has provided the basic foundation for youth sports to thrive.

随着中国的培训机构纷纷关停，许多机构转型为青少年体育中心。时任中国国家体育总局青少年体育司副司长周锦瑶指出，“双减”政策为青少年体育的蓬勃发展奠定了基础。

One example of this is the Dazhi Education Centre in Shandong. The centre had been in operation for more than 20 years but announced the opening of a sports centre and the launch of a basketball training camp right after the announcement of the Double Reduction Policy.

山东的大智教育培训学校就是这方面的一个例子。该机构营业20余年，但在“双减”政策出台后，立即宣布大智先锋体育开业，并启动篮球训练营项目。

In fact， after the announcement， all senior management teams working in the centre were made to study and make arrangements according to the new national policy requirements. Their step into the sporting direction showcased the early signals of such a transformation.

事实上，自从“双减”政策出台，大智的所有高层管理团队都按要求学习了国家新政策，并据此作出了相应调整。大智进军体育行业展现了中国对体育态度转变的早期信号。

Under the Double Reduction Policy， there are now strengthened supervision of the sports sector and improved systems and standards to guide stand-ardised and positive development， and help companies maintain quality and safety. The industry is on a healthy development track， providing a strong institutional guarantee of growth.

“双减”政策实施后，如今对体育行业的监管也有所加强，制度和标准得到完善，以指导规范、积极的发展，帮助体育行业的企业保证质量和安全。体育行业走上健康发展的轨道，为发展提供了强劲的制度性保障。

The Ministry of Education issued the “Compulsory Education Curriculum Plan and Curriculum Standards （2022 Edition）” on the 21st of April 2022. In the plan， it is mentioned that “sports and health” classes would account for 10%—11% of total class hours， surpassing foreign languages and becoming the third major “main subject” in early and primary schooling.

2022年4月21日，中国教育部印发了《义务教育课程方案和课程标准（2022年版）》，其中提到“体育与健康”课要占总课时的10%—11%。这一科目因此超过外语，一跃成为幼小教育中的第三大“主科”。

The plan also proposes to make full use of after-school services for sports and exercise to promote the development of youth sports after-school training. From these moves， we can see the emphasis on children’s sports and health and the development of children’s sports and health interests from an early age.

《义务教育课程方案和课程标准（2022年版）》还提出，要充分利用课后体育和锻炼服务，推动青少年体育课后训练的发展。从这些举措中，我们可以看出国家不仅重视青少年体育与健康，而且重视从小培养孩子对体育与健康的兴趣。

A focus on big sporting events

关注大型体育赛事

With China’s great success in previous global sporting events， there has never been a more favourable atmos-phere for youth sports consumption until now. Parents are starting to see merit in competitive sports. It turns out that academics is not the only way to bring out one’s merits. And just like with tutorial centres， parents are planning to “win at the starting line”， so to speak， by signing up their children for youth sports classes.