A primary student enjoys herself in jumping exercises while taking part in a nationwide sports hour campaign in Beijing on Sunday morning, April 29, 2007. [BOCOG]

China National Radio reported that, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Education, the General Administration of Sport and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, the compulsory drills pulled hundreds of millions of students from primary, middle schools and universities out of classrooms and on to playgrounds.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, attended a ceremony in Beijing to fire the starting gun for a relay race, marking the start of the campaign.

Students in other places throughout the country also enjoyed themselves in different sporting activities.

The campaign was launched in a situation where more and more Chinese students are suffering from obesity, with average physical strength having declined in recent years.

The exercise among minors also drew attention from state leaders. President Hu Jintao urged enhanced exercise among youngsters at a conference on April 23.