ABSTRACT
Until the beginning of 1998, the planned restructuring of the State Sports Commission had continued, with the extension of the management centre system to twenty sports, and the reduction of the commission to 380 staff and just twelve departments, for the overall administration of the country’s sport. Autonomy for sport was increasing by every move, but just three months later came the announcement, in March 1998, of the closure of the Sports Commission. Part of a whole package of government restructuring designed to lead the drive for a more efficient system, the changes were sweeping in their extent and profound in their potential for the future of China. Figures 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 outline the structure of the sports system at this time.
