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Students play soccer at a primary school in Shangyu district, Shaoxing. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

Shaoxing residents spent 15.07 billion yuan ($2.24 billion) on sports in 2021, with their per capita consumption on sports reaching 2,859 yuan, up by 11 percent year-on-year, according to a recent report released by Shaoxing authorities.

The city's per capita consumption on sports accounted for 7.6 percent of Shaoxing's per capita living expense last year, statistics show.

Nearly 70 percent of those who spent on sports last year bought equipment for outdoors activities, especially camping and hiking.

Analysts said that this surge in consumption is due to people choosing outdoor activities to alleviate the pressure created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government's current "double reduction" campaign, which aims to ease the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring for students undergoing compulsory education, is another factor driving the growth in sports consumption, said one analyst.

Last year, Shaoxing residents on average spent about 220.8 yuan on sports training, with badminton, basketball and swimming being the most popular sports.

Officials with the Shaoxing sports bureau said that they will take measures including releasing coupons to boost sports consumption this year.