The 2016 Boao Forum For Asia held the first ever sub-forum focusing on sport over the last 15 years.

The Sports Sub-forum, held yesterday (24 March) highlighted the rising sports industry in China. A list of well-known figures were in attendance,including CMC President Li Ruigang and former NBA star Yao Ming, the owner of CBA club Shanghai Sharks.

"We have to change our traditional view on sportin China. Previously it was powered by only one engine and now we have four, so that's a much more complicated system," said Yao Ming.

"Eight billion is just a start," said CMC President Li Ruigang. "There are so many things for us to do in the future. There has to be a healthy system behind it."

"We learned a lot fromthe NBA,so we have gained more experienceand we are looking forward to a bigger stage," said Tencent VP Chen Juhong.

Source: Xinhua

Proofread by John Devlin.