Beijing schools launch student sports leagues citywide

A series of banchao, or student sports leagues, has been launched across primary and secondary schools in Beijing this month, in line with China's Health First education strategy.

At Hepingjie No 1 Middle School in Chaoyang district, students are taking part in a wide range of sports, including soccer, basketball, and handball.

Yang Yan, president of Hepingjie No 1 Middle School Education Group, said all 11 campuses under the group are participating in the competitions, with around 8,300 students involved. The events are expected to run through the end of the year.

A similar wave of participation can be seen at the primary school affiliated with the Beijing Academy of Education Sciences, where more than 400 banchao matches are expected to be organized. The competitions cover students of all grades, ensuring full participation.

Li Yiren, a 13-year-old student at the school, said: "The games make me happy and have given me the opportunity to join higher-level tournaments."

Beijing education authorities said that throughout the year, up to 400,000 competitions are expected to be held citywide, holding more than 10 million spots for student participation and further promoting a culture of health, teamwork, and active living among young people.