Retired hurdler Liu calls for more sports on campus

Former star hurdler Liu Xiang has called for placing greater importance on physical education to improve students' declining fitness.

"The deterioration of children's fitness levels has been a pressing issue in society, and has also drawn attention from the sports circle. Promoting the role of physical education in schools needs to be given greater importance," Liu, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said on Thursday.

Although retired from athletics, Liu, the gold medalist in men's 110-meter hurdles at the 2004 Athens Olympics, was mobbed by a huge group of reporters when he appeared at the opening meeting of the CPPCC National Committee's annual session on Monday.