What Is 2017 National Games of China

Overview

The 2017 National Games of China, officially known as the 13th National Games, served as the country's premier multi-sport event, bringing together elite athletes from across China. Held in Tianjin, it was the first time the city hosted the Games, marking a significant moment in China’s domestic sports calendar.

This edition emphasized broader public engagement, introducing mass participation events for amateur athletes alongside traditional elite competitions. The Games aimed to promote national fitness while showcasing China’s athletic excellence ahead of international events like the Olympics.

• Over 10,000 athletes from 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and special administrative regions participated, making it one of the largest National Games in history.
• The event spanned 13 days, from August 27 to September 8, 2017, with opening and closing ceremonies held at the Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium.
• 339 medal events were contested across 33 sports, including Olympic staples like athletics, swimming, and gymnastics, as well as traditional Chinese disciplines.
• Tianjin invested over 10 billion RMB in infrastructure, including new stadiums, athlete villages, and transportation upgrades to support the event.
• The Games introduced 19 mass participation events, allowing non-professional athletes to compete in categories like jogging, dragon boat racing, and fitness qigong.

How It Works

The National Games of China operate as a quadrennial event, similar to the Olympics but on a national scale, designed to identify and promote athletic talent across the country. Each edition is hosted by a different city, selected through a competitive bidding process managed by the General Administration of Sport.

• Host Selection: Cities submit bids years in advance. Tianjin won the bid in 2013 over competitors like Chengdu and Shenyang, based on infrastructure plans and financial commitment.
• Participating Teams: Athletes represent provinces, municipalities, and special regions. 31 delegations competed in 2017, each fielding teams based on qualifying results from national trials.
• Event Structure: The Games feature both elite competitions and mass events. Elite events follow Olympic formats, while mass events include recreational sports with simplified rules.
• Medal System:Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded per event. Medals are tracked by delegation, with rankings influencing regional funding and athlete development programs.
• Qualification: Athletes must meet national standards set by sport federations. For example, swimmers needed top 16 national times in their events to qualify.
• Anti-Doping Measures: The 2017 Games enforced over 3,000 drug tests, including both in-competition and out-of-competition screenings, to ensure fair play.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2017 National Games can be compared to previous editions in terms of scale, participation, and innovation:

The 2017 Games marked a turning point by integrating public sports into the official program. This shift reflected a national policy push toward 'Healthy China 2030,' emphasizing fitness for all, not just elite performance. Subsequent editions expanded on this model, increasing accessibility and public involvement.

Why It Matters

The 2017 National Games had lasting implications for China’s sports development, athlete pathways, and public health initiatives. By blending elite competition with mass participation, it redefined the purpose of national games in a modern context.

• Promoted inclusivity: The inclusion of amateur events allowed over 8,000 non-professionals to participate, broadening access to national-level competition.
• Boosted Tianjin’s profile: Hosting elevated the city’s status as a sports hub, attracting over 200,000 visitors during the event and increasing tourism revenue.
• Advanced anti-doping standards: The 2017 Games set a precedent with 3,200 drug tests conducted, reinforcing China’s commitment to clean sport.
• Supported Olympic preparation: Many athletes used the Games as a qualifier for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• Encouraged youth sports: The mass events inspired over 500 school programs nationwide to adopt similar fitness activities in physical education curricula.
• Strengthened regional pride: Provincial delegations celebrated victories as points of local honor, increasing government investment in grassroots sports programs.

The 2017 National Games demonstrated how national sports events can evolve to serve both competitive excellence and public well-being, setting a model for future editions.