ABSTRACT
Sport in old (pre-1949) China existed for the wealthy, and the poor health of the Chinese people in general resulted in the country being described as ‘the sick man of Asia’. Only one athlete competed in the 1932 Olympic Games and, although athletes competed in the 1936 and 1948 Games, they did so with little distinction. Only one swimmer competed in the 1952 Games; the football and basketball teams arrived too late.
