BRIDGING POLICY AND PRACTICE: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SUSTAINABLE SPORTS PARTICIPATION AND INSTITUTIONAL IMPLEMENTATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN SICHUAN, CHINA

Abstract

Physical education and sports engagement are vital to sustainable development in higher education, aligning with China’s Healthy China 2030 strategy and the National Fitness Plan (2021–2025). However, disparities remain in how institutions implement sports policies, leading to uneven participation rates across regions. This study examines sports policy implementation and student participation in Sichuan Province’s universities, focusing on institutional support, demographics, and participation frequency. Using a quantitative design, stratified random sampling selected 1,028 participants (882 students, 146 administrators) from 10 universities in urban and rural areas. A structured questionnaire measured demographics, participation frequency, institutional support, and policy awareness. Analysis used descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression. Findings show 61% of students participate in sports at least three times weekly. Significant predictors include gender (β = 0.274, p = .001), policy awareness (β = 0.366, p < .001), infrastructure quality (β = 0.251, p = .003), and administrative commitment (β = 0.193, p = .032). Policy awareness had the strongest correlation with participation (r = 0.684, p < .001). Gaps persist between national goals and local capacity, especially in rural universities. Addressing these requires targeted funding, administrator training, gender-inclusive programs, monitoring systems, and integration of sustainability into campus sports policies.