A wide range of events will be held around the country to encourage people to take more physical exercise.

 

 

National Fitness Day activities will be launched on Saturday at a ceremony organised by the Beijing All-China Sports Federation, the Communist Party Central Committee, and the Beijing Government.

 

Similar events will be held in all China's major cities.

 

From Friday, a three-day National Fitness Carnival will be held at the National Olympic Sport Centre.

 

All sports facilities in the Olympic Centre will be open to the public free of charge.

 

Activities will include fitness seminars, fitness check-ups, table tennis, five-a-side football, swimming and tennis. Similar events will be held in other places around the country, including Shanghai, Inner Mongolia, Henan Province and Liaoning Province.

 

Liu Peng, the Director of the State General Administration of Sport, said the setting up of National Fitness Day reflected the deep concern of Communist Party and the Chinese government regarding the nation's health.

 

Liu claimed that National Fitness Day shows the Government is determined to help China get fit and to help people improve their lifestyles.

 

Liu said he hoped National Fitness Day would help boost people's enthusiasm for physical fitness in the run up to the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the People's Republic of China.