Abstract: In the process of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, the digital economy has become a new form to drive the high-quality development of China's economy, and brought new opportunities, new momentum and new characteristics to sports consumption. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces and cities (autonomous regions) in mainland China from 2015 to 2021, the article utilized the fixed-effects model together with the mediated-effects model and heterogeneity analysis to explore the impact effect of the development of the digital economy on residents' sports consumption. The results show that the digital economy has an obvious promotional effect on the development of sports consumption in China, and the impact on sports consumption has spatial heterogeneity, which is more obvious in the eastern region than in the central and western regions, and more obvious in the coastal region than in the inland region. On the action path, digital economy can promote the development of sports consumption through scientific and technological innovation ability. Therefore, we should accelerate the construction of information network facilities, orderly promote the upgrading of infrastructure, continue to promote the development of innovative capacity, accelerate the innovation of sports consumption experience, constantly broaden the digital sports consumption market, promote the integrated development of digital urban and rural areas, optimize the structure of regional economic development, and promote the narrowing of the regional digital economy gap, in order to improve the high quality development level of sports consumption in China and contribute to promoting economic growth and building a new development pattern.

Key words: digital economy, sports consumption, impact effects, action path