Olympic legacy continues with National Fitness Day

Even as the London Olympics continues, the legacy of the Beijing Games carried on Wednesday with a series of activities in observance of China's fourth National Fitness Day.

To commemorate the event and boost the public's participation in exercise, Aug 8, the opening day of the 2008 Games, was set as the country's National Fitness Day in 2009.

On Wednesday, 480 representatives from 16 districts and counties met at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, which was the host stadium of Olympic badminton and rhythmic gymnastics.

The ceremony marked the launch of a basketball tournament in Beijing. The competition will run through December, and residents are encouraged to sign up in an effort to further popularize the game in the city.

Li Lili, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, said the city benefited immensely from the Games.

"The public is showing increasing care and enthusiasm for fitness, and 49 percent of our residents are exercising regularly," Li said. "The number equals the world's developed countries, and our main tasks in the next period are to maintain and enhance the rate."

Li said the promotion of a national fitness program plays a major role in the local government's effort to improve the happiness index.

After making exercise facilities accessible in all communities and the countryside, the government is planning to build 10 sports bases, including motor sports, hiking and bicycle riding, to satisfy the public's needs.

"We have invited many sports and health experts to give our residents lectures about how to perform exercises in scientific ways, and we are also monitoring to assess the health conditions of society every five years," Li said.

Sharpshooter Yi Siling, who won the London Olympics first gold medal, also joined the celebration and tipped off a basketball competition at the university.

People in other parts of China also observed National Fitness Day.

tangzhe@chinadaily.com.cn