Logic and Orientation of China's Sport-Medicine Integration Policy Evolution

Based on the historical institution theory, this study employed a mixed research method to analyze the evolution logic and orientation of China's central-level sports-medicine integration policies by quantifying 1995 to 2023 policy texts. As a result, it is found that China's sport-medicine integration policies underwent three stages, that is, the initial exploration, the intensive promotion, and the steady development. Logically, path dependencies like "high-level promotion" for policymakers' collaboration, "people-oriented" guidance of core values, and "supply-led" strategies for integrated development formed a gradual evolution pattern. Positive empowerment at critical junctures spurred targeted innovations, leading to the steady evolution of sport-medicine integration policies. In terms of the orientation, there were policymakers' orientations characterized by multiple collaboration and stable cores, thematic orientations featuring inheritance and innovation with overall consideration, and instrumental orientations marked by structural imbalance and biased development. To advance the high-quality integration development, policies should fully utilize core policymakers' coordination, clarify their rights and responsibilities, pursue balanced development in areas of concern, enhance industrial chain cultivation, and prioritize the structured optimization of policy instrument and sub-instrument allocations.