Abstract: It is the correct route for China’s competitive sports development to perfect the model of elite sport talent cultivation through the combination of sports and education. It is essential to clarify the combination of sports and education in terms of its connotation, structure and features, forms and levels, fundamental principles and influencing factor in theory. We should provide forward-looking and operable proposals based on the current problems existing in the present model so as to solve these problems and to implement the new mechanism of the combination of sports and education by adopting the corresponding new measures.

Key words: elite sports talent, combination model of sports and education, system design, new ideas and practice