Abstract:
As foundational vehicles for implementing the national fitness-for-all strategy at the grassroots level, informal sports organizations critically shape the efficacy of building a “joint contribution, collaborative governance, and shared benefits” framework. Grounded in China’s localized governance context for national fitness, this study conducts a multi-case grounded theory analysis to delineate the operational framework of informal sports organizations. Findings reveal that their adaptive governance practices constitute an innovative evolution within the socialist sports governance system with Chinese characteristics. These organizations exhibit distinct operational features: they employ a “cell-like stress-response” mechanism to align with national strategic objectives, translating top-down institutional mandates into community-tailored fitness service solutions through relational network building and knowledge-based governance. Their operational mechanism demonstrates a distinct “adaptive hub” characteristic, flexibly integrating resources via resource bricolage and institutional negotiation, while fostering iterative innovation through technology-empowered feedback closed-loops and cultural DNA integration. Nevertheless, in pursuing high-quality development, such organizations confront dual governance dilemmas: (a) an asymmetry between expansive organizational mandates and constrained self-efficacy, and (b) hierarchical resource allocation disparities. To address these challenges, the research proposes a Chinese path optimization plan for governing informal sports organizations during the high-quality development of national fitness. It emphasizes a people-centered approach, with the public as the main participants and technology as the connecting tool. By integrating government and social resources, the plan aims to build a smart community fitness network based on neighborhood support, thereby improving service efficiency.