Shanghai – November 12, 2026 -- Shanghai aims for major sporting events to generate an average annual economic impact of at least 35 billion yuan ($5.21 billion) by 2030, according to its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for sports development.
Plan sets 2.2 percent GDP share for the sports industry
The sports industry's value added is targeted at about 2.2 percent of GDP. On the public side, around 58 percent of residents should take part in sports regularly, and sports venue area per capita should reach approximately 2.9 square meters.
Shanghai will bid for one or two top-tier events
The city will pursue top-tier international events in athletics, swimming, gymnastics, beach volleyball and emerging sports with strong commercial value. It will host the Shanghai stop of Olympic Q-Series 2028 and the 2026 UCI Track World Championships. Shanghai will also work to bring the Shanghai Marathon into the Abbott World Marathon Majors and to develop the Head of Shanghai River Regatta into a top-tier international event.
Venues will go up on rooftops and under elevated roads
New facilities are planned for residential communities, parks, green spaces, building rooftops, and beneath elevated roads and bridges. Public, school and community venues will move toward shared access. The Laihudong platform will be upgraded to help residents find venues.
Shanghai courts sports brands and first-store openings
The city will support events at tourist attractions, in neighborhoods and in commercial districts, and promote event-centered travel. It will seek to attract internationally renowned sports companies and encourage domestic and international sports brands to open first stores locally.
Lin-gang water sports center and Maqiao tennis town advance
Shanghai will complete the water sports center in the Lin-gang Special Area and advance the Qizhong Tennis Center complex to develop Maqiao into a tennis town. It will also work with neighboring areas on regional event brands, including the Yangtze River Delta International Triathlon and the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala.