# Construction and empirical study of China's snow sports evaluation Index system

## TL;DR

This paper creates and evaluates an index system to assess snow sports development in China, showing growth driven by Olympic investments but hindered by high costs.

## Contribution

A novel three-level evaluation index system for China's snow sports, validated with empirical data and regression analysis.

## Key findings

- The overall snow sports development index increased 10.92-fold from 2015 to 2019.
- Mass participation grew 12.71-fold, outpacing competitive and economic development.
- Winter Olympics investment had a significant positive impact, but high operational costs posed a barrier.

## Abstract

This study aimed to construct a scientifically-grounded evaluation index system for snow sports development in China, addressing persistent challenges in mass participation, industry cultivation, and regional coordination despite competitive achievements. The research was motivated by the transformative impact of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the need for a locally adapted evaluation framework that maintains international comparability.

A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining in-depth interviews with 43 experts analyzed via grounded theory to develop a three-level indicator system (3 primary, 13 secondary, and 54 tertiary indicators). A combined weighting method integrated objective data characteristics and normative design principles, applied to panel data from 2015–2019. Regression analysis was conducted to quantify the impact of Winter Olympics investment.

The overall development index increased 10.92-fold from 2015 to 2019 with mass participation showing the most rapid growth (12.71-fold) followed by competitive development (10.64-fold) and economic development (8.82-fold). Regression analysis confirmed that Winter Olympics investment had a significant positive impact (β= 0.1661, p < 0.1) while cost expenditure was a significant barrier (β= −0.0190 to −0.0398, p < 0.05).

Strategic Olympic investment catalyzed holistic development, particularly in mass participation, amplified by policy campaigns like “Engaging 300 Million People in Ice and Snow Sports.” The concentric circle model validated the interconnectedness of competitive, mass, and economic dimensions. However, high operational costs threaten long-term sustainability, necessitating policies to improve.