Smart technologies fuel booming fitness campaign

Going online

Thanks to the fast development of online platforms, fitness enthusiasts in China now have more choices for sports events through joining online competitions, which have become a new trend since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in early 2020.

To celebrate the 14th National Fitness Day on Aug 8, online challenges organized by the GASC were held nationwide from late April.

More than 100 online sports events were organized during this time, with support from over 50 platforms. By last month, some 12 million people had taken part in these events, with 2.7 million participants awarded certificates in recognition of their achievements.

In addition to everyday fitness enthusiasts, online challenges have attracted Chinese Olympic and world champions, including short-track speed skating Olympic champion Wu Dajing, Olympic weightlifting champion Lyu Xiaojun and women's shot put star Gong Lijiao.

Along with traditional online challenges such as running, cycling and rope skipping, other sports, including Frisbee, ice and snow events, have been added to the online challenges.

The 2022 National Triathlon Online Challenges, held from Aug 8 to 21, are one example of these challenges. Participants, who signed up on smart apps, chose to complete the 51.5km or 25.75km challenges by running, swimming and cycling. The results were uploaded online for comparison with other participants, and those who completed the challenges were awarded digital medals and given the chance to win national team sportswear.

The GASC also organized an online fitness carnival from Aug 8 to 31, which included challenges such as skateboarding, rope skipping and soccer juggling. Participants simply needed to film their actions and upload them online to complete the challenge.

Ding Dong, an official at the GASC, said: "Despite the pandemic, the national online fitness challenges can attract and motivate more people to take part in sports and embrace fitness. There are no time or location limits, so participants can join these challenges anywhere and at anytime they want."

Exercising at home by following online workout videos or live broadcasts is also becoming popular in China. Compared with going to crowded gyms, many people are following online trainers at home, especially during the pandemic.

According to a report from the short-video platform Douyin in March, the number of fitness videos on the platform last year rose by 134 percent year-on-year, while the number of content creators for these videos rose by 39 percent. Compared with the previous year, there was a 208 percent rise in the number of followers of these online fitness trainers.

Revenue from live fitness broadcasts on Douyin rose by 141 percent year-on-year, and the growing passion for exercising at home resulted in fast sales growth for some equipment.

According to the 2022 Spring-Summer Sports and Fitness Consumption Trend Report published by the Jingdong Institute of Consumer and Industrial Development, sales of yoga and dance products have risen rapidly since March.

Sales of yoga stretchers grew by 868 percent, yoga shoes by 816 percent, and yoga bags by 104 percent.

The 2022 China Online Fitness Industry Development Report released by the Intelligence Research Group shows that the market scale of the nation's online fitness sector saw 36.2 percent growth in 2020, and its market value reached 369.7 billion yuan.

Ding said: "With more people attracted to fitness and sports, habits are changing. Many people are getting used to finishing their training through online platforms, and are relying more on them.

"The platforms also function as traditional clubs and sports organizations. People use them to organize events, share information, and to communicate. We hope these online events and platforms can help more people get into the habit of doing sports and exercising."

The fast growth of the smart and online fitness sectors in China is the result of efforts made by the nation over the years.

Such commitment was underlined when the revised Law on Physical Culture and Sports, based on the original version enacted in 1995, was passed at a June session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, China's top legislature. The revised legislation will take effect from Jan 1.

National fitness is a key focus of the revised law, which stipulates that local governments are responsible for providing sports facilities and activities, and that a sports adviser system be promoted nationwide.

The law also states that the nation should guarantee fair participation in sports for all people, especially juveniles, women, the elderly and those with disabilities.