Walking a fine choice for exercise

As people become more and more health conscious, they rush to take part in various kinds of sports activities. But one way remains the cheapest and most popular. Walking.

Over the weekend, more than 3,000 Hangzhou citizens took to the famous West Lake to take part in the 2012 Coca-Cola Start-walking Festival and to mark the 60th anniversary of the release of a proclamation made by late Chairman Mao Zedong - Promote physical culture and build up the people's health.

Bai Changbo, vice-president of Coca-Cola Greater China, said the company had been supporting activities with the theme of "Balanced Diet and Active Living", which was launched by the Ministry of Health four years ago. Together with local sports bureaus, the world's soft drink giant has hosted walking events in more than 20 provinces and cities attracting more than 1.1 million people.

During this year's NPC and CPPCC sessions, Hu Yang, a member of CPPCC, proposed that relevant government departments should promote walking and establish areas in urban communities to cater for walkers . He also proposed the government set May 11 as "Walking Day" to further arouse the public's awareness of fitness.

According to research statistics by People's Daily Online, walking is the most popular daily exercise with 90 percent of respondents saying it was chosen mode of exercise.

"Coca-Cola attaches great importance to public fitness activities in China," Bai said. "As China's focus shifts from competitive sports to public fitness, we will get more involved in public activities to promote healthy lifestyles."

Such walking promotions have been held more than 10 times since 2010, and this year Coca-Cola plans to host eight stops around the country, making it a signature fitness brand event for the masses.

During the Hangzhou stop, local sports bureau chief Zhao Rongfu showed the citizens 10 different ways of walking, such as hand-swinging walking, hand-clapping, tiptoeing, windmill-like walking, etc. Zhao said about 800,000 people exercise regularly in Hangzhou by walking. Zhao said he invented his ways of walking in order to bring fun and joy to daily strolls.

Bai also said Coca-Cola is still committed to supporting China's Olympic program and wants to spread the word of active and healthy lifestyles far and wide.

(China Daily 06/13/2012 page23)