Feature: How AI powers China's push toward sporting powerhouse goals

By sportswriter He Leijing

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- At a middle school in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province, the new spring semester has brought an unusual companion to the playground: artificial intelligence (AI).

Students skip rope, sprint and leap across the track, their movements captured in real time by an AI motion-tracking system. The technology then generates individualized feedback to correct posture, analyze performance and produce personalized training plans.

"Sports are more fun with the AI playground, and we can even compete with each other," said 13-year-old Pan Zhijie, a seventh grader who has set himself a new goal this semester to use AI guidance to improve his form and complete 10 pull-ups.

Across China, scenes like this are becoming more common as AI reshapes how people exercise, train and compete. From sensor-enabled running tracks and intelligent fitness gear to robot training partners, the country's rapidly evolving AI ecosystem is merging with sports in ways that once seemed futuristic.

During this year's annual "two sessions" -- the gatherings of China's top legislature and political advisory body -- AI has emerged as a hot topic. Policymakers highlighted the expansion of the "AI Plus" initiative to promote faster application of new-generation intelligent terminals and AI agents and encourage large-scale commercial use of AI in key sectors and fields.

Sport is no exception. Many national legislators and advisers convening in Beijing say smart sports are helping accelerate China's push toward its long-term goal of becoming a sporting powerhouse.

FUTURISTIC FITNESS FOR THE MASSES

As dusk settles over a sports park in Jiangsu's Wuxi, runners move along a glowing track embedded with infrared sensors. With every stride, a ribbon of LED lights flickers ahead, tracing a luminous path through the night.

"Night runs used to feel a bit risky when the paths were dim," said local resident Zhou Qian. "Now the track lights the way and even syncs with my phone to show my heart rate, speed and calories burned. It's safer and a lot more fun."

The park is the city's first AI-powered sports complex, blending the Internet of Things, big data and public fitness programs to transform ordinary recreational space into an interactive playground open to all ages.

As China expands its nationwide fitness infrastructure, such intelligent facilities are spreading. They are drawing in a new generation of tech-savvy users while lowering barriers for people who may have lacked access to coaching or training guidance in the past.

According to a government work report submitted at the "two sessions" to the country's top legislature for deliberation, China aims to strengthen physical education to promote the holistic development of students.

Chen Jing, a deputy of the National People's Congress, suggested integrating wearable devices and data platforms into schools to track metrics such as heart rate, step counts and sleep quality, creating long-term health profiles and personalized exercise prescriptions for students.

The vision is already taking shape. Many schools in Beijing have introduced AI-powered sports facilities equipped with high-speed cameras and sensors, as the city has implemented a work plan for AI application in the education sector and expanded the use of AI in sports to offer more scientific and targeted guidance for students' fitness and exercise.

Official data show that China's per-capita sports venue space has reached 3.1 square meters. Some observers have expressed concern that as the country promotes longer physical-activity hours in schools, available facilities could come under strain.

Educators argue technology can multiply the value of limited physical space. Tao Luna, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said meaningful exercise does not always require large stadiums.

"Aerobic workouts, flexibility training and explosive exercises can all be done in classrooms, corridors or small playgrounds," Tao said. "With AI-assisted instruction, students can learn how to stay active effectively even in limited spaces. Fitness can truly happen anywhere."

Technologists are also stepping in. Zhou Di, a National People's Congress deputy and head of a research institute at Zhejiang Uniview Technologies, said AI sports equipment developed by the firm has been deployed in more than 800 schools nationwide, helping children find the joy of exercise through interactive technology.

National People's Congress deputy Li Ruifang proposed establishing dedicated funds for AI smart sports and promoting AI-assisted tools in schools to function as auxiliary coaches, while building a nationwide database of student fitness records to support personalized teaching.

Safety is also a focus. Li suggested integrating AI fall-prevention warning systems into campus safety networks. AI-powered systems could automatically detect falls or risky movements during exercise and alert teachers in real time.

For Bao Mingxiao, a CPPCC National Committee member, the broader promise of AI lies in lowering barriers to participation.

"Lack of skills can discourage many people from exercising," Bao said. "With continued advances in AI and robotics, training costs could fall dramatically, while users receive instant evaluations of their performance."

Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness bands have become common tools for millions of Chinese fitness enthusiasts tracking health data and training efficiency.

Even in mountain tourism, technology is expanding access. In scenic destinations such as Mount Tai and Mount Huangshan, hikers, particularly older visitors, are increasingly assisted by wearable exoskeletons and smart trekking poles that provide mobility support, monitor vital signs and offer audio guides along the trail.

Government policy is fueling the trend. A five-year national action plan implemented in 2024, themed "technology empowering sports," calls for innovation to support China's sporting ambitions and identifies AI applications in sports as a key priority.

Unstaffed gyms and intelligent sports venues are appearing across the country. According to Bao, personalized AI fitness assistants are becoming an accessible gateway for ordinary people to embrace smarter exercise.

Technology companies are moving quickly. Many have integrated large AI models, including DeepSeek, into smart treadmills and training platforms that generate tailored exercise plans based on personal data.

Industry forecasts suggest the smart fitness sector will continue to grow, with the market expected to reach 140 billion yuan (about 20 billion U.S. dollars) by 2026.

SMARTER SCIENCE FOR ELITE SPORT

Beyond mass fitness, AI is also reshaping elite athletics.

From talent identification and training analysis to officiating, equipment design and rehabilitation, data-driven technology is increasingly embedded across competitive sports.

In its Olympic AI Agenda, the International Olympic Committee has highlighted AI's potential to enhance fairness, performance and fan engagement. That vision took a major step forward at Milan-Cortina 2026, where organizers deployed the first official Olympic large language model.

Built on Qwen, a foundation model developed by Chinese technology giant Alibaba, the system supported smarter operations and digital services throughout the event.

In China, elite teams are also turning to AI for a competitive edge. Table tennis, one of the country's most decorated sports, is expanding the use of algorithms and data.

Wang Liqin, chairman of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, said researchers are working with governing bodies to develop AI applications in training monitoring and match analysis.

Research institutes have developed robots capable of simulating opponents with adaptability. AI systems can analyze large volumes of match footage, extracting fine-grained performance indicators -- from spin rate and landing patterns to rally tempo and error distributions -- and modeling opponents' preferred tactics and defensive tendencies.

"The introduction of AI will help solve two key problems -- precise monitoring during training and deeper analysis of competition performance," Wang said. "That allows coaches to design more scientific training plans and help athletes reach higher levels."

In aquatic sports, the Chinese national diving team trains with a "3D + AI" motion analysis system that captures movement midair and analyzes posture and entry angles in real time to provide data-driven evaluations for coaches.

In archery, Tao said big data has been used to analyze arrow speed, distance and trajectory, giving athletes more intuitive feedback. In cycling, training data collected each day informs the next day's practice plan.

Tao added that such technologies are also changing talent identification by providing more objective metrics for spotting promising young athletes.

Zhang Hong, China's first Olympic speed skating champion and a CPPCC National Committee member, said technological independence will be important to China's sporting future.

"Many of the core technical equipment used in international competitions still comes from overseas," Zhang said. "To become a true sporting powerhouse, China must bring its own technologies onto the world stage through sport."

Zhang leads university research teams exploring intelligent sports equipment, energy-efficient venues and advanced rehabilitation systems, aiming to turn laboratory results into practical gains.

At Milan-Cortina 2026, China achieved its best-ever result in overseas Winter Games competition, aided in part by immersive training systems using technologies including virtual and augmented reality to simulate competition environments.

Ji Dong, coach of China's freestyle skiing aerials team, said scientific training will remain central to future preparations. "We will continue to rely on technology and data while striving for excellence on the field."

For Zhang, the direction is clear.

"The fusion of sports and technology is not a bonus. It's an inevitable path," she said. "From equipment to venues, from training to recovery, innovation is everywhere on the Olympic stage. And through sport, the world is witnessing the rise of China's technological strength." ■