President Xi on the ball when it comes to sport

Chinese President Xi Jinping is a sports enthusiast who enjoyed playing football and volleyball when younger and actively takes part in swimming and mountaineering.
He has made a number of public comments related to Chinese football to express his support and has high hopes for the national team.
He said it is the unpredictable nature of sport that attracts him and his passion for, and participation in, sports has made him more down-to-earth, winning a lot of fans inside China and around the world.
![]() |
Chinese President Xi Jinping gives a thumbs-up as he watches the football match in Berlin between youth teams from Zhidan in China's Shaanxi province and VfL Wolfsburg, Germany, March 29, 2014. The Chinese team lost to VfL Wolfsburg 0-2. [Photo/Xinhua] |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Most Popular
- Young skaters Zhang and Huang secure China a place at Milano-Cortina 2026
- Noren beats Saddier in playoff to win PGA Championship
- Wuhan among four hosts for 2026 women's basketball World Cup qualifiers
- Blazing a trail
- Is Hong Kong ready for the upcoming National Games?
- China Swing gets off to a winning start for Chinese men