noun
state amateur
Wasei-eigo term for a government-funded athlete in training, often in countries like China or the former Soviet Union, where the state supports sports development.
wasei-eigo (Japanese-coined English), from state amateur
中国のステートアマチュア制度は、オリンピック選手の育成に大きな役割を果たしている。
China's state amateur system plays a major role in developing Olympic athletes.
Variant with a middle dot; less common but still seen.
アマチュア is a general term for an amateur, while ステートアマチュア specifically refers to a government-funded amateur athlete.
Wasei-eigo from English 'state amateur'. The term is used in Japanese to describe a government-funded sportsperson who is officially an amateur but receives state support for training.