What they said

It (cancellation of administrative approval for commercial and mass sports events) would be a significant step toward forming a free market for the sports industry to grow, but it would be just one step in a long journey. More measures should be considered to improve cooperation with the public security department, the health care authorities, and even the fire departments to simplify the administrative procedures of event organization, so event investors and operators can save time and manpower costs.

Yao Ming, former NBA center and owner of the Shanghai Sharks basketball team

To further develop the sports industry, the old perception that's ports goods manufacturing is the sports industry' should be updated. Athletic performance and fitness services have become dominant parts of the modern sports industries in Western countries, while China still lags behind in these sectors. One of the keys to boosting these sectors is the cultivation of special talents, such as event operators, club managers, sports marketers and fitness trainers.