Improving public participation in sports is more important to the youth development of China's "big three" ball games than medals, according to coaches and experts.

Desperately keen to see the country's soccer, basketball and volleyball teams record high-profile victories on the international stage, China's sporting authorities introduced the Under-18 category and a multi-medal reward policy in all three sports featured in the National Games. It was hoped the move would benefit the development of youth sports.

"Adding a youth competition to the games should motivate local sports bureaus to invest more resources and pay more attention to nurturing the reservoir of talent," said Xiao Tian, deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China, at the media briefing that concluded the National Games in Shenyang, Liaoning province, on Thursday.