China's e-commerce giant Alibaba announced on Wednesday that it will set up Alibaba Sports Group, aiming to take a bigger share in the lucrative¹ sports industry of China.

中国电商巨头阿里巴巴集团周三宣布，将建立阿里巴巴体育用品公司，旨在中国体育产业赚到一杯羹。

The launch of the Sports Group serves as one of the latest moves from Alibaba in China's sports industry after the e-commerce titan invested 1.2 billion yuan (about 192 million U.S. dollars) to own 50 percent stake of Guangzhou Evergrande, China's most successful soccer club and former Asian Champions League winner. 

Alibaba also had business cooperations with German champions Bayern Munich, Spanish giants Real Madrid and NBA star Kobe Bryant. 

Alibaba founder² and chairman Jack³ Ma once said providing health and happiness will be Alibaba's two main priorities in its next 10 years' development. And sports, Alibaba believes, can achieve both. 

With the latest campaign, Alibaba said it hopes to bring "digital and economic" thinking to China's already booming sports industry, reshaped the whole of the industry and make consumers enjoy much more comfortable and convenient sports services. 

"Internet has become a new impetus⁴ for sports industry's development and Alibaba Sports Group will strive to provide a web portal for the industry. Hopefully it will upgrade the whole industry and bring more values," said Zhang Yong, CEO of Alibaba.