Competing against the gwailou & coming first or boasting about the number of competitions you win is a typical Communist & Chinese trait. The USSR used to be the highest gold medal winner in all Olympics . Where's it today or the system which threw up those athletes ?
Basically the CCP needs something to boast about to prove to it's slaves that the trade off those slaves have indulged in by sacrificing their freedoms including the freedom to choose those who rule over them in lieu of a better more secure economic future was & is a good bargain.
As far as the growth of the Chinese economy goes , let's see your GDP growth rates for a couple of years before you pronounce who's winning .
Remember the hare & tortoise race .
I think everyone knows it's impossible to compete with Gwailou in 100m race and basketball, football fields, but they are still popular sports here. So don't put ideology in every debate, it's boring.
Wel, there are official Gold Medal Strategy with massive government investment, but the local and unofficial sports as profitable industry.
This is an unofficially and commercial 1v1 basketball contest on provincial level, i took my son to participate, just for fun.
The organizations, referrees, even the desgin of TIFOs, badges are driven only by business purpose. The are U6, U7... till U14, full of people.
Gal vs boy
Spalding as sponsor:
This kind of contest running every weekend here, the Nike or Adidas or Lining shoes with $200USD is not problem here, mid class here have strong comsumin power, those kids look slim, but they are 180cm+ tall...