Theoretical Framework, Real-World Challenges, and Paths to Empowering Rural Revitalization through Sports

The concept of sports empowering rural revitalization refers to the injection of stronger development capabilities, energy,and broader growth opportunities to rural communities through sports. The theoretical framework of sports empowering rural revitalization can be observed through several key aspects: the historical alignment between the development of sports as a strong nation and the rural revitalization in a new developmental phase, the practical integration of the diverse functions of sports with the needs of rural revitalization within the context of a new development pattern, and the systemic coordination between comprehensive rural sports development and the sustainable revitalization of rural areas in line with new development ideologies. This concept reflects the dialectical unity of sports development as both a goal and a means to achieve development. Challenges in sports empowering rural revitalization primarily include conceptual hurdles, such as perceptions of “passive empowerment”, the notion that sports are of little utility, a diminishing role of rural communities, and a lack of well-defined high-quality development concepts.There are also systemic challenges, including the urban-rural dual structure, the yet-to-be-realized efficiency of the new nationwide system, the absence of mechanisms for integrating sports, imperfect governance structures, misallocated resources, and inadequate driving forces. Moreover, there's a shortage of talent for rural development and sports. To effectively promote sports empowering rural revitalization, it is imperative to establish a comprehensive strategic framework, build a three-dimensional development layout characterized by “nodes, chains, and clusters” for rural revitalization through sports, prioritize the high-quality integration of rural sports industries, expedite the implementation of significant projects aimed at sports-driven rural revitalization, strengthen the foundation of sports-related social organizations supporting rural revitalization, enact multiple policies that support sports in rural empowerment, and nurture sports talents for rural development who possess an understanding of sports and agriculture and a passion of rural areas and farmers.