“Change is unfolding at Shanghai's No.1 Children's Sports School Pudong New Area, a small cog in a state-run machine that has churned out Chinese Olympic champions for three and a half decades. China's sports system has been enormously successful since the country returned to the Olympic fold in 1980, culminating with the host nation topping the medals' table at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with only a slight dip into second place behind the United States in London four years later. And yet, with the Rio de Janeiro Games less than three months away, the system is beginning to break down due to the shifting demographics of a more prosperous nation. It poses a big challenge to the school's party committee secretary, Huang Qin, whose institution is one of 2,183 around the country producing 95 percent of the country's Olympians. Fewer parents are willing to let their children endure gruelling training routines from as young as six years of age, leading to a fall in student numbers. Some schools have closed and others are adjusting the way they work. The number of sport schools is down from 3,687 in 1990, government numbers show. “In the 1980s and 1990s, schools like ours were extremely attractive”, Huang said, recalling a time when families were poorer and generous sports subsidies were more highly prized. “(But) parents are less willing now to send their child to sports schools if they perform fairly well in exams...The source of students for sports schools has shrunk as society placed more importance on cultural education”. – Anita Li, Jessica Macy Yu, Damir Sagoli and Sabrina Mao via Reuters



A boy practices as his coach assists during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, May 4, 2016. China's sports system has been enormously successful since the country returned to the Olympic fold in 1980, culminating with the host nation topping the medals' table at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And yet, with the Rio de Janeiro Games less than three months away, the system is beginning to break down due to the shifting demographics of a more prosperous nation. Some schools have closed and others are adjusting the way they work. Some, like the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School, are going into kindergartens to advertise gymnastics as an after-school play time activity to parents. “We call it happy gymnastics”, said principal Zhu Zengxiang. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)





Children practice handstands during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, March 23, 2016. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)





A girl tries to stretch her legs and reach a stick held by her coach during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, May 4, 2016. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)





A coach wipes away tears and comforts a girl who was feeling tired during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, May 4, 2016. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)





Girls do handstands during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, May 4, 2016. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)





A coach helps a girl during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, March 23, 2016. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)





Students at the Shichahai sports school pass a poster featuring the school's former students who became Olympic champions, before their classes in Beijing, China, May 18, 2016. The poster reads “Learn from Olympic champions”. China's sports system has been enormously successful since the country returned to the Olympic fold in 1980, culminating with the host nation topping the medals' table at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And yet, with the Rio de Janeiro Games less than three months away, the system is beginning to break down due to the shifting demographics of a more prosperous nation. Some schools have closed and others are adjusting the way they work. At Beijing's Shichahai, adorned with posters extolling the feats of ex-students turned Olympic champions, vice-head Zhang Jing said the school offered “comprehensive development” and equipped athletes with the skills needed for life after sport. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A girl practices during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, March 23, 2016. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)





Girls practice sit-ups during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, on May 4, 2016. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)





A girl stretches her leg to reach a balance beam during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, May 4, 2016. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)





Twin sisters wearing identical tights lie on a balance beam as they watch other children practice during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, May 4, 2016. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)





A boys lies on ground and stretches his legs during a break from gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School in Shanghai, China, March 23, 2016. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)





Students practice table tennis at the Shichahai sports school in Beijing, China, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





Students at the Shichahai sports school attend a class in Beijing, China, May 18, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)





A student puts her helmet on during fencing training at the Shichahai sports school in Beijing, China, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)