What types of competitions do children often take part in?

In China, children often participate in academic competitions, especially in subjects like math and science. The main reason is that parents and schools place a strong emphasis on academic excellence, which they see as crucial for future success. For example, I remember when I was in middle school, my classmates and I spent months preparing for math olympiads, practicing problem-solving skills almost every day. On the other hand, there's also a growing interest in sports and arts competitions, like football tournaments or painting contests, which allow kids to develop other talents beyond academics. Still, academic competitions tend to dominate because they're directly linked to exam performance and university admissions.