In recent years, the total output value of the sporting goods industry has increased by about 50 billion yuan a year and the market share of fitness products is growing year on year. Some sports products were branded after world champions, for example world gymnastics champion Li Ning and world table tennis champion Deng Yaping.
Since 1994, when soccer went over to a professionalized, market-driven approach, it has attracted some 6 million spectators every year, generating annual revenue close to 700 million yuan.
The seasonal average attendance for CBA professional basketball games is 80 percent capacity. Volleyball, table tennis, badminton, and baseball also provide plenty of match products. The sports entertainment business plays a leading role in the sports industry, stimulating the development of related industries, such as sports sponsorship, TV relay, sports media, sports advertising, and the sports lottery. A government economic forecast indicates that by 2010, the total value of China's sporting goods industry will represent 1.5 percent of the GDP.
