The Paris 2024 Olympic Games kick off today. As an avid sports fan, Chinese President Xi Jinping has cheered for China's sports cause on many occasions and pointed out the direction for building a leading sporting nation.

Edited excerpts of Xi's speeches on sportsmanship since 2017 follow:

Excerpt from Xi's speech at a meeting with national sports advanced units and individuals on August 27, 2017 

Excerpt from Xi's speech at a meeting to review the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and commend outstanding individuals and groups on April 8, 2022 

Excerpt from Xi's report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on October 18, 2017 

Excerpt from Xi's speech at a meeting to review the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and commend outstanding individuals and groups on April 8, 2022 

Excerpt from Xi's speech at a meeting to review the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and commend outstanding individuals and groups on April 8, 2022 

VOICE 

Sources: Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (III, IV), Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television