AN EFFECTIVE STUDY ON THE DEVELOPMENT PATH OF MINORITY FOOTBALL IN WESTERN YUNNAN

Abstract

The western Yunnan region is one of the ethnic minority areas in China, where Lijiang, known as the 'hometown of football,' has developed a unique football development path with ethnic characteristics over its long history. This study focuses on the development path of ethnic minority football in western Yunnan, utilizing methods such as literature review, field investigation, interviews, questionnaire surveys, and case analysis. It systematically examines the main types and operational mechanisms of ethnic minority football development in the region, constructs an evaluation system for the effectiveness of development paths, and conducts in-depth analysis of typical cases such as Lijiang Football Town, ethnic minority football competitions in Yunnan Province, and pilot schools for campus football. The study finds that the development path of ethnic minority football in western Yunnan has initially taken shape but is uneven across regions. Lijiang and other places have formed a distinctive model of 'government guidance + social participation + campus foundation + event traction.' Campus football plays a fundamental role in the popularization and talent cultivation of young people, and ethnic minority events have become important vehicles for stimulating public participation and promoting ethnic unity. The integration of the football industry has shown initial results, but brand building and profit models are still immature. The shortage of grassroots coaches and low professionalization levels remain key bottlenecks restricting sustainable development. Based on these findings, this study proposes optimization strategies from six dimensions: policy coordination, integration of sports and education, event branding, cultural integration, talent cultivation, and industry innovation. The aim is to provide theoretical references and practical path insights for the development of football in western Yunnan and other ethnic minority areas in China.