Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Liu Peng (Middle), Director of the State General Administration of Sport, announces the designation of August 8, 2009 as National Fitness Day.

China is to mark the anniversary of the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympics by declaring August 8, 2009, National Fitness Day.

China has declared August 8, 2009, National Fitness Day, to mark the anniversary of the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 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 August 8 at a ceremony organized 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.

Starting on August 7, a three-day National Fitness Carnival will be held at the National Olympic Sport Center. All sports facilities in the Olympic Center 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.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on August 4, Liu Peng, 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.

According to Liu, National Fitness Day shows the government is determined to make human development a top priority and that it is paying attention to issues concerning the people's livelihood.

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

(China.org.cn by Gong Jie, August 5, 2009)