The State Council released a circular on Sept 17, calling for more efforts to stimulate sports consumption and promote a nationwide fitness program.

The circular encouraged national sports associations to delegate by allowing market entities to bid for rights to host sports events and operate venues on public property rights trading platforms.

To create a better environment for the sports industry, measures will be taken to improve tax and fee policies and strengthen intellectual property rights protection, the circular said, urging related departments, including the People’s Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance, to increase financial support for the development of the industry.

Meanwhile, to promote sports consumption, the circular decided to extend the opening hours of public sports centers, set up a list of pilot cities for sports consumption, and promote a nationwide fitness program.

Ice-snow sports industry will also be advanced, according to the circular.

In the future, the sports industry will play a bigger role in integrating with other industries, such as medical services, tourism and education.