China sets five-year goal

The blueprint, which articulates 38 key tasks across areas such as mass fitness, elite sports, physical education and anti-doping programs, has been integrated into China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

It's the first time that the sports sector's own near-term plan was officially included in the country's holistic development roadmap for the next five years, said Wei Zhenyong, a deputy director of the policy and regulation department of the GASC.

"It shows that sport's evolving role as a facilitator for coordinated development of public health, economic growth and urban civilization has been recognized at the highest level," said Wei.

The increasing emphasis on mass fitness, youth development through PE and the sports industry's contribution to economic growth, highlighted by such guidelines, has signified a monumental shift, said scholars.

"Ever since we dominated the overall medal table at our home Olympics of Beijing 2008, winning glory for the country at international events has not been the sole priority of the sports sector," said Tan Jianxiang, a sports sociology researcher at South China Normal University.

"Sport is supposed to play a more profound and more versatile role in the nation's social and economic development, and this is where a great potential remains in our country."