China's National Games opened to overseas Chinese participation

A softball player in the preliminary contest of the 13th Chinese National Games. [Photo/VCG]

BEIJING -- China's sports governing body rolled out an unprecedented reform on Wednesday as it invited athletes from the Chinese diaspora to compete in the upcoming Chinese National Games.

Chinese who have obtained foreign citizenship, foreign decedents of Chinese immigrants and Chinese citizens who are residing abroad are now eligible to apply for participation in the 13th Chinese National Games, which will be held from Aug. 27 to Sept. 8, said Li Yingchuan, vice minister of China's State General Administration of Sport.

"We decided to invite high-level athletes from the Chinese diaspora to take part in the all the 26 competitive sports events of the National Games," he said.

The Games organizers will set up a special committee to check the eligibility of the applicants, according to Liu Xiaonong, director of the Competitive Sports Department of the State General Administration of Sport.