While all the Chinese athletes make intense preparations for the 2008 Olympics, the students of Beijing Hepingjie Second Primary School are busy getting into the spirit of things in their own unique way.

With the introduction of "Happy Ten," a new form of school exercise originated in the United States, the kids have discovered the benefits and joys of sports and games during school time.

"It is a lot of fun," said Wang Mengran, a 11-year-old fourth grader. "For me and my classmates, to keep ourselves healthy is the best way to welcome the 2008 Games.

"The Olympic environment is all around us and I am really happy to join in."

Based on the "Take 10" concept in US, the programme started in China in 2004 in a few schools in the country .

The concept is simple - to give kids 10 minutes of free play every afternoon during school days.

They are free to play games that they themselves suggest - from Olympic sports to Harry Potter's favourite "Quidditch." The teachers let kids decide every single detail of the games, including music selection and all the movements and gestures.

The programme has opened up the students' minds so much that over 50 games have been created in the school over the past two years and new games keep on being generated.

"It's a totally fresh experience for me. Normally you wouldn't invite all your friends over to play a game like this during school, but we play it everyday, I am so happy," said Wang. "It is the best moment of my day."

With the fast development of Internet and television games, obesity is spreading at an alarming rate. Kids lock themselves at home rather than run around with friends like their parents used to do. Added to this is the invasion of the fast food industry and the heavy emphasis on test scores at school.

According to a survey by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 8.1 per cent of children aged 6 to 17 were overweight in 2005, the percentage more than doubling since 1995. Another statistic claims that 94.1 per cent of obese kids do not engage in any physical activity. As a result, heart problems that used to only affect middle-aged and elderly people are a problem for kids,

"The obesity problems are all due to a 21st-century lifestyle high technology, high calories, high anxiety we have to change all these things," said Ma Guansheng, a nutritionist of Disease Control and Prevention Centre. "With a population that is medically handicapped, the cost is enormous, so programmes like Happy Ten offer kids a taste of exercise and help them establish life-long health habits."

As the programme began to have an impact, the kids who once had been hooked on computer games and fast foods discovered the love of exercise.

"I have changed after taking Happy Ten," said Xuan Lin, a fourth-grade student. "It gave me a sense of sports that I have never had before."

Eleven-year-old Xuan joined a swimming team at a local physical school and now the love of sport is spreading through her family.

"My daughter is always excited when talking about her games in class and teachesher father and I to play them at home," said her mother Jiang Meizi.

No statistics have been kept, but parents reported to Ma that their children were losing weight. Teachers said the kids were more alert in the classroom.

Starting September, the programme will be promoted to 140 primary schools in 14 cities around the country. Statistics on the impact of the exercise on weight will be kept.

(China Daily 06/02/2006 page5)