ABSTRACT
China has traditionally been a highly centralized nation, although the situation has begun to change in recent years. The administration of physical education and sport is undergoing similar change although it is still dominated by three government structures. The first is the National Physical Education/Sport Commission (a ministry or government department) which is in charge of general professional and amateur sport training and competition, mass fitness and research. The second is the National Education Commission which is in charge of physical education and sport in school, and the third is a collection of industry and business ministries responsible for fitness and sport for their employees and families. These three organizations have a vertical administration system at provincial, city and district division levels to carry out their duties, with lateral networking among them. For example, two of them may work together to organize sports events. These three systems are all responsible to the head of government.
