Past Games inspired general public to participate

China Daily | Updated: 2014-11-10 09:26

Taking a daily workout at an Olympic venue may seem like a luxury to regular sports lovers, but Yang Jinhan has played badminton on the court where superstar Lin Dan won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics for about five years.

Yang, a salesman, is among hundreds of people who routinely play badminton in the gym at the Beijing University of Technology, which hosted the badminton and rhythmic gymnastic events in 2008, thanks to the venue's post-Olympics transformation into an affordable civic facility the following year.

Built on campuses or situated close to downtown neighborhoods, most of the permanent venues for the 2008 Olympics now serve as centers for mass fitness activities, grassroots competitions, and recreational events, offering accessible facilities at low prices.

"You couldn't ask for a better place to play than an Olympic-standard court," 34-year-old Yang said. He lives close to the university and plays twice a week in the 13,000-seat gym, which features a high-tech air conditioning system especially designed for badminton.

"It's on my doorstep and it's affordable. That's why I have to book the court in advance - it's fully occupied every night."

Similar scenes regularly happen at the public swimming pool of the National Aquatics Center, on the three-on-three basketball courts outside the MasterCard Center, and at the ping-pong hall in the Khoo Teck Puat Gymnasium at Peking University.

Inspired by the Olympic spirit embodied by the performances of homegrown Olympians in 2008, the general public in China has been taking exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

To prompt greater enthusiasm for fitness programs, the State Council selected Aug 8 to be the annual "National Fitness Day", during which a range of grassroots competitions and exercise events are held across the country as a continuation of the 2008 Olympic legacy.

Experts attributed the increased attention to mass fitness programs to the profound influence of the Olympics.

"The Olympics Games' involvement with China provided a chance for the Olympic movement to gain greater appeal in the world's most-populous country, especially among the younger generation," said Ren Hai, a professor of sports sociology at Beijing Sport University.

"Compared with material legacies, the intangible Olympic heritage embodied by education and cultural exchanges is a significant positive influence on the next generation, and presents a modern image of China," he said.

Pei Dongguang, director of the Olympic Research Center at the Capital Institute of Physical Education, said the success of the Nanjing Youth Olympics and Beijing's bid for the 2022 Winter Games show that momentum generated by the Olympics will endure for a long time, and help China forge an image as a rapidly emerging global power.

"Preparing for the Games reminds the public to be more environmentally friendly, and helps the government to address issues such as pollution, public transportation, and urban infrastructure. The process helps to raise the whole nation's environmental awareness and promotes civilized behaviour," he said.