China has been making headlines at the Olympics—but not just for its athletes’ medal haul. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, international sports competitions are a platform to bolster a country’s international reputation. China has been struggling to keep up a positive image, but a state-driven approach has seen Beijing open over 2,000 state-run sports schools.
Antonio Graceffo is one of the few Westerners to have experienced these schools firsthand. The China economic analyst recorded his experiences in two books, and spoke to NTD about his experiences.