The Legacy: Did the Beijing Olympic Games have a Long-Term Impact on Grassroots Sport Participation in Chinese Townships?

By applying Norbert Elias' figurational theory, this paper aims to discuss whether the Beijing Olympic Games had any significant long-term impact on grassroots sport participation in townships in China. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 140 subjects in selected townships and findings indicate that the Olympic Games fever only existed during the holding of Olympic Games in China and did not play a long-term impact on sport participation at the grassroots level in townships. The sport participation in townships in China is still at a comparatively lower level than that at national level.