The Information Office of the Hunan Provincial People's Government held a press conference on December 17, focusing on Hunan's development of sports cause during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

According to the conference, over the past five years, mass sports activities have been widely promoted across the province. The per capita sports venue area increased from 1.75 square meters to 2.88 square meters, growing over 64%.

At the press conference. (Photo/Li Jian, Hunan Daily)

Over the past five years, Hunan has consistently adhered to the principle of "developing people-centered sports" by making full use of underutilized urban spaces to build sports facilities accessible to residents. A total of 58 sports parks of various types have been newly built or renovated, including 12 "pocket sports parks" completed in 2024 alone. In Changsha, seven under-bridge spaces have been transformed into free fitness venues open to the public. Additionally, the authority has encouraged public sports venues to open to the public free of charge or at reduced rates, benefiting over 200 million visits cumulatively.

By the end of 2024, 5,692 communities across the province have been equipped with sports facilities, achieving a coverage rate of 99%, while 22,978 administrative villages had such facilities, with a coverage rate of 97%. The goal of achieving 100% coverage of sports facilities in both communities and administrative villages is set to be met by the end of this year. Meanwhile, Hunan is advancing standardization of sports facilities, aiming to improve the quality of sports venues by increasing supply.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, over 1,000 rural fitness projects and 336 sets of multi-functional sports equipment were put into use. With the collaborative efforts of the Hunan Sports Bureau and the Hunan Development and Reform Commission, a total of 58 sports parks of various types have been newly built or renovated.

Hunan athletes have obtained remarkable achievements in both international and domestic sports events. At the Paris Olympics, they secured four gold, five silver, and three bronze medals, marking the province's best performance in the past six Olympic Games. At the 14th National Winter Games, Hunan athletes made their debuts and won one silver and three bronze medals, achieving a historic breakthrough in medal tally. During the 15th National Games, both the number of participating athletes and the total medal count set new records in the history of Hunan's participation in the National Games. Throughout the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Hunan athletes have collectively won 57 world titles, 68 Asian championships, and 270 national championships.

In June 2025, the State Council officially approved Hunan Province to host the 16th National Games in 2029. This marks the first time the National Games will be held in central China, and represents a dream come true for Hunan after three bidding attempts and five inclusions in the provincial government work reports.

The 2025 Hunan Football League that kicked off in September this year has also gained immense popularity and extended its influence beyond the sports arena. According to data from China Mobile, as of December 14, the league attracted 2.2054 million audiences on-site. During the event, host cities welcomed a total of 60.152 million tourist arrivals, and the event spurred total consumption of 12.149 billion CNY, making it the most influential local sports brand in Hunan.

责编：冯宇轩

一审：冯宇轩

二审：田梦瑶

三审：秦慧英

来源：湖南日报·新湖南客户端