Sports and National Identity: Theoretical Discussion and Chinese Perspective

The study, on the theatrical basis of sports and national identity, explores the path of strengthening national identity by means of sports in the context of China.It holds that the relationship between the two should be observed from the perspective of era, space, politics and objects.Sports and national identity combine deeply with each other in the reality, thus form the legitimate identity, resistant identity and planning identity.China's multi-historical identification and political characteristics determine both the important status of sports in national agenda and the deep link between sports and national identity.The study proposes that the consolidation of national identity through sports in new era needs to be implemented in the framework of "Five Identities", namely the establishment of state, nationality, culture, political party and system views through sports through conceptual, institutional and action levels.