IOC initiative in China aims to reach 100 million people through community sport and digital engagement

The Community Sport and Health Cooperation in China Initiative is a three-year programme which aims to strengthen collaboration between the sport and health sectors and to expand access to sports opportunities, contributing to improved health and well-being for all.

Launched in January 2026, the initiative is engaging people through a combination of digital engagement and in-person activities designed to encourage participation in sport and physical activity. Additionally, 250,000 residents will be supported in moving from initial participation to regular community-based sport and physical activity.

The initiative responds to a significant public health challenge in China. Only 37.2 per cent of people in the country regularly participate in sport and physical activity, while 80 per cent of adolescent boys and 85 per cent of girls do not meet the physical activity levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Bringing Let’s Move to life through community sport

As part of the initiative, 32 Community Sport and Health Centres across China are providing inclusive, safe and accessible opportunities for people of all ages to get active in the lead-up to Olympic Day. Combining local events with digital tools that help participants discover, try and sustain regular sport and physical activity, the activities are inspired by the IOC’s Let’s Move campaign.

At a recent community table tennis event in the Hangzhou Community Sport and Health Centre, participants aged 9 to 75 took part in a welcoming and inclusive environment designed to promote the physical, mental and social benefits of sport.

“It was really fun and inspiring to play and meet others and have the chance to interact with national team athletes,” said Wang, a 12-year-old participant.

“Activities like this make people more willing to step outside, get moving, and continue taking part in community sport in the future,” added Zhou, a 60-year-old local resident who also joined the sport activity.

Beyond China: more than 4 million people already reached in five countries

The initiative builds on a commitment made during the Olympism365 Summit in June 2025, where the IOC and CISS announced plans to launch this initiative to improve access to health-advancing sport and physical activity and create more active and healthier communities.

The Community Sport and Health Cooperation Initiative in China is an extension of the wider Sport and Health Cooperation Initiative delivered by the IOC in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the global health NGO PATH in Ghana, Tanzania, Nepal, Peru and Vietnam.

In those countries, the initiative has already reached more than 4 million people and supported 1.2 million people to participate in sport and physical activity. Furthermore, it has trained more than 6,200 coaches, teachers, healthcare workers and youth workers to promote sports participation, physical activity and active lifestyles. 

Let’s Move drives engagement around Olympic Day

The IOC’s global participation initiative Let’s Move is promoting activations around the world ahead of Olympic Day on 23 June, under this year’s theme “You Can Do This”.

Let’s Move is an ongoing initiative from the IOC in collaboration with WHO, launched in 2022, aiming to inspire and enable people to discover and access the many benefits of movement and sports participation.