School of Physical Education, Shandong University

The Logical Basis, Existing Challenges, and Optimization Pathways for Non-Governmental Organizations Organizing Sports Events in China from the Perspective of Institutional Change Theory

basketball

Journal of Chengdu Sport University

Chengtu

Non-governmental organizations organizing sporting events; sports competitions; mass-scale sporting events; market-oriented reforms; theory of institutional change

The organization of sports events by non-governmental entities serves as an important supplement to government-led event organization and constitutes an indispensable component in enhancing China's sports event ecosystem. Drawing on the theory of institutional change, this article employs a combination of literature review, fieldwork, interviews, and logical analysis methods to explore the logical rationale, existing challenges, and potential optimization pathways for non-governmental entities organizing sports events in China. The study argues that the rationale for such event organization is jointly driven by three factors: the institutional supply logic stemming from the government's proactive delegation of authority, the organizational adaptation logic arising from the growing capacity of non-governmental entities to organize events, and the demand-driven logic fueled by the public's desire for diversified sporting events. However, several challenges persist: inadequate alignment of institutional frameworks and ongoing difficulties in policy implementation; barriers to collaboration among stakeholders and insufficient coordination within event organization mechanisms; inadequate resource allocation and room for improvement in economic returns; and a weak event culture coupled with limited public participation. In response, this article proposes several optimization pathways—namely, improving institutional frameworks and strengthening the effectiveness of policy support; refining collaborative mechanisms to enhance coordination among diverse stakeholders; strategically allocating resources to boost value creation capacity; and fostering a robust event culture to solidify the foundation for public engagement—aiming to provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for the high-quality organization of sports events by non-governmental entities in China.

冯蕾

王小宁

5A9F6713D985494DA3906F323A4AEE75

Management Science

J

52

03

31-40

4.322

10.15942/j.jcsu.2026.03.04.

10

1001-9154

No

51-1374/G8

2025-12

2026-01-15