21调查｜东方启明星突发闭店欠薪危机，体育培训龙头身陷扩张后遗症

Core Viewpoint - The crisis at Dongfang Qiming, a leading youth sports training institution in China, has led to widespread operational shutdowns and financial distress among employees and parents, highlighting the challenges faced by the youth sports training industry amid rising costs and changing consumer behavior [1][3][4]. Company Overview - Dongfang Qiming, established in 2009, claims to operate over 1,000 campuses across more than 200 cities in China [2]. - The company has experienced rapid growth, serving over 1 million students, but has recently faced significant operational challenges [8]. Industry Context - The youth sports training industry has been under pressure, with several leading institutions like Huaxiang Shengshi and Dongyin Sports facing financial difficulties [3][11]. - The market has seen a surge in new institutions post "double reduction" policy, leading to increased competition and market saturation [8][11]. Financial Distress - Employees at Dongfang Qiming have reported being owed wages for up to two months, with some coaches facing even longer delays [1][5]. - Parents have expressed frustration over the inability to obtain refunds for prepaid courses, with some having paid amounts exceeding 20,000 yuan [5][14]. Operational Challenges - The company has faced issues with venue partnerships, leading to operational shutdowns and a lack of communication with staff and parents [4][6]. - The high operational costs, including monthly payroll expenses estimated at nearly 10 million yuan, have contributed to the financial strain [6][7]. Regulatory Environment - The crisis has brought attention to the regulatory challenges surrounding prepaid fees in the education sector, with new regulations aimed at preventing institutions from collecting large upfront payments [14][15]. - The implementation of designated bank accounts for fee collection has faced resistance, complicating compliance for older institutions [15].