Sporting events boost host cities' economic growth

China has been hosting international and Asian sports galas since 1990 when Beijing hosted the Asian Games. Beijing has also played host to the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics. And while Guangzhou, Guangdong province, hosted the 2010 Asian Games, Chengdu, Sichuan province, played host to the 31st FISU World University Games from July 28 to Aug 8.

Now Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is hosting the 19th Asian Games which opened on Saturday and will conclude on Oct 8.

These big sports events, together with grassroots competitions, such as the "Village Basketball Association Competition", dubbed "Village BA", in Taipan village in Guizhou province, and the "Village Super (Soccer) League", in Rongjian county in the same province contribute to China's national physical fitness campaign.