Between October 18 and 24, 1910, the first Chinese national sports meet was held in Nanjing as part of the country's effort to participate in and host the Olympics at an early date.

The Far Eastern Championship Games, originally named the Far Eastern Olympics, was launched in 1913. As one of the founders, China participated in all ten Far Eastern Championship Games held from 1913 to 1934.

In 1915, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized the games and invited China to join in the next Olympics and to attend IOC meetings.

In 1922, Wang Zhengyan, chancellor of China University and sponsor of the Far Eastern Championship Games, was selected to be the first Chinese IOC member.

In August 1924, the All-China Athletic Association was established as the first national sports organization. Later, China sent three athletes to participate in non-competition tennis events at the eighth Olympics in Paris.

Four years later, China named Song Hairu as its observer at the Ninth Olympics in Amsterdam instead of sending any athletes.

The IOC recognized the All-China Athletic Association in 1931 and China formally went onto the Olympic stage.