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ISSN 2576-1382 (Print) ISSN 2576-1390 (Online)

Vol. 5, No. 2, 2022
www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/ape

28

Original Paper

China-Russia Sports Programs
Anuradha Kataria1*

1 Freelance Writer, Author of the book “Democracy on Trial, All Rise!”

Received: March 8, 2022       Accepted: March 22, 2022     Online Published: March 25, 2022 

doi:10.22158/ape.v5n2p28           URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/ape.v5n2p28

Abstract

This paper analyses the different styles of governance in various parts of the world which is also 

reflected in their respective sports programs. While the democratic Western countries lead in this 

arena in an inspiring democratic way, the autocratic countries like China and Russia have scintillating 

sports output but it is done in their characteristic autocratic way. Variegated systems are perhaps good 

for sports in general and people in all countries are used to their respective systems and it perhaps 

works for them that way.

Keywords

Regimented training, Doping, Olympic results

1. Introduction

We are living in the best age as yet where the world is at peace, poverty getting decimated round the 

world and mankind is excelling in all fields. Sports is at its most exciting best. It is rightly led by the 

Western democratic countries which really raise the bar so high in their characteristic ethical, well 

organized fashion while keeping concern for athletes’ well being at the core. But autocratic countries 

do produce fabulous outputs and add to the thrill of competition and it perhaps works for them in that 

way. 

2. Method

All respective countries sports programs were analysed basis existing literature. The writer lives in 

democratic India and also has lived for extended period in China and understands their psychology and 

values. 

3. Results

It is good for the world sports that different countries pursue their own systems and make the 

competition exciting. While analysis focuses on the essence of their respective sports programs, in 



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conclusion numbers do count and here is a tally of recent Olympic results

Table 1. Tokyo Olympics 2020

Countries Gold Silver Bronze Total

United States 39 41 33 113

China 38 32 18 88

Japan 27 14 17 58

Great Britain 22 21 22 65

ROC 20 28 23 71

Table 2. Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Countries Gold Silver Bronze Total

Norway 16 8 13 37

Germany 12 10 5 27

China 9 4 2 15

United States 8 10 7 25

ROC 6 12 14 32

4. Discussion

The Western democratic countries produce the most brilliant sports men and women and inspire the 

rest of the world to aim for excellence too. In their truly democratic style, it is also done in the right 

spirit of sportsmanship and surely lacks any form of nationalism. Likewise, democratic Japan too 

produces some brilliant sportsmen and women in a similar democratic fashion. Although it is no news, 

sporting giants, China and Russia also win outstanding Olympic medals but in their characteristic 

authoritarian manners. Seeing some of their sports documentaries on their draconian sports training 

models, we can even feel a bit sorry for their sportsmen and women. China and Russia are also well 

known for their state sponsored dope programs. Russia counts among the nations that have been 

stripped of the largest number of Olympic medals due to doping allegations. China on the other hand is 

more difficult to catch. It is more than hearsay that they have a state of the Art medical program which 

produces drugs and hormones that can not be caught by the current system. 

The Chinese system is something like this. They scour the countryside for potential athletes to catch 

them young. Often 3-4 year olds are separated from their families and taken into the sports 

concentration camps where they are trained. Apart from rigorous training, they also have some 

hormonal adjustment early on, so it can not be detected later on in spot tests. The sports academies are 

run by coaches who then govern these future athletes life, both personal and professional. As they 

become teenagers, their coaches decide who they can and can not date. If they suspect their partners are 

having any kind of negative impact on them, they are advised, rather told to stay away from them.  



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Published by SCHOLINK INC.

They are very successful in this. The sports men and women are also inspired to play; they are perhaps 

used to the system. China dominates several sports like Badminton, Diving etc. and Table Tennis is 

almost entirely an All China competition.  

Figure 1. Ma Long and Fan Zhendong Gold Medal Match, Tokyo 2020

Russian sports program is somewhat less regimented but equally ambitious and rigorous nevertheless. 

The coaches control what their protégés will eat or not and try to get young sportsmen and women to 

dope and compete fiercely. In 2019 the World doping agency banned Russia as a nation from 

International sports competition and the athletes were to be allowed in the next Olympics to compete as 

individuals under the Russia Olympic Committee banner (ROC). Now, in 2022, Russia has further bans 

due to its invasion of Ukraine. Some international events to be held in Russia like F1 in Sochi has been 

cancelled also Russian figure skaters as well as several other sports men and women have been barred 

from competing in World championships. Though it is a bit harsh on them, given that they hardly have 

any say on their Russian political figurehead and they have also already endured the system they have 

to live under.  They do produce some world class figure skaters, ballerinas and other sports 

personalities though. Due to the ban World champions like Anna Scherbakova and Alexandra Trussova 

won’t be able to compete in the upcoming World skating championship.

Figure 2. 2022 Gold medalist Anna Scherbakova Russian Figure Skater

The Chinese system operates strictly on the carrot and stick basis, winners are rewarded heavily and 

losers given the stick end of it. So after the Olympics there are separate parties for the winners. Chinese 



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only like the “Gold”.  The Gold medal winners and their coaches are given heroes’ welcome, meet the 

state politburo and are invited to a gala celebration for the Gold medalists only.  The Silver and 

Bronze medalists are somewhat second class and the ones who didn’t win anything, just written off and 

looked down upon as if they somehow brought disgrace to the nation.

The sportsmen and women and in general the whole populace are considered a property of the state to 

serve the common good. For instance if a sports person were to quit at the top of their game in the 

Western world, they are honored as heroes and even respected more for that. In China, they would be 

considered as traitors. They are supposed to bring honour to the state rather than pursue their “selfish” 

personal dreams. 

Both the systems are not as bad as operated by the earlier Communist era regimes which were even 

more dictatorial. The sportsmen and women do seem quite inspired and are somewhat used to their 

respective nations’ autocratic ways.

The worst examples are from the Middle East. It is known that when the Iraqi footballers used to return 

home defeated in a match, Saddam Hussein used to get them whipped. But by their standards, that is 

just mild treatment, at least he didn’t dip them in acid; that probably is reserved for political opponents. 

India is quite a democratic country and do not push their populace in any direction whatsoever and 

even Bronze medalists are given heroes’ welcome. In the rest of the world like Africa or Latin America, 

sports are individual inspired and not led or controlled by the state.  Latin Americans produce some 

real good footballers and surfers. Africans do have incredible marathon runners though somewhat 

famished looking, as if running for food or money. 

Figure 3. Gold Medalist Kenya’s Kipchoge, Tokyo 2020



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Figure 4. Alex Hall Olympic Gold in Slopestyle skiing, Beijing 2022

Different nations with widely disparaging political systems, also reflected in their national sports 

programs do make competition more exciting and fierce. The autocratic countries do excel in all fields 

as well. However, the Western democratic countries produce the best of the world in all sports like 

Soccer, Skiing, MotoGP, F1 Triathlon, Gymnastics, Tennis, etc. the list is endless and set the standards 

so high. It is done in a truly inspirational manner and the spirit of the sports is joyous and liberal.  

Their freedom and democratic essence is truly worth aspiring for, they represent empowerment and 

should continue leading the world through soft power. 

References

Gleaves, S. (n.d.). Tokyo Olympics Medal Table—Which country has won most Golds? BBC. 

Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/57836709

Olympics Medal Table. (n.d.). Olympics. Retrieved from https://olympics.com/beijing-2022/olympic-

games/en/results/all-sports/medal-standings.htm 

Weller Chris. (Aug 1 2016). Inside the grueling Chinese “sports schools” where kids become 

Olympians, Tech Insider. Retrieved from https://www.insider.com/how-china-trains-olympic-

athletes-2016-7

Wamsley, L., & Kennedy, M. (Dec 17, 2020). Russia gets its doping ban reduced but will miss next 2 

Olympics. NPR

Retrieved from ttps://www.npr.org/2020/12/17/947504052/russia-suspended-from-next-2-olympic-

games-over-anti-doping-violations


