With more venues open to the public, thriving grassroots scenes and a dizzying array of activities to choose from, sports and fitness have become an indispensable part of Chinese people's lives over the past decade.

Now China is upping its game even further, with the 14th National Fitness Day on Monday energizing the nation.

As part of the celebrations, over 4,000 themed fitness and grassroots sports activities have been held in 31 provinces and municipalities in recent weeks, while another 100-plus activities have been launched online.

The themed activities range from the likes of basketball, soccer, long-distance running and winter sports adapted for summer to more traditional Chinese elements such as martial arts, tai chi and folk dance.

Online initiatives, meanwhile, are enhancing people's enjoyment of sports like running, cycling and rope skipping, with smart apps and devices tracking their stats and allowing them to join competitions.

Over the last 100 days, more than 12 million people have participated in over 100 online events, with 2.7 million of those awarded certificates in recognition of their achievements.

"This is the 14th National Fitness Day since it began in 2009, and with all the efforts that we have put in over the years, fitness and sports have become more and more important in people's lives," Ding Dong, an official from the General Administration of Sport of China, told media on Friday.

"The national fitness push is a truly special, long-term campaign that welcomes participation and support from all sections of society. Now there are more and more fitness activities for people to choose from, while at the same time the quality of facilities is getting better and better."

Typical of the buzz being generated nationwide, Sichuan province on Friday launched themed activities, both on and offline, designed to encourage more people to embrace sports.

After Friday's launch ceremony, a series of community sports competitions were held, including table tennis, basketball and long-distance running.

Sichuan also staged a series of promotional events which allowed people to try sports they may not necessarily be too familiar with, as well as learning about scientific training and anti-doping policies. The use of virtual reality technology enhanced many of these activities. For instance, kids were especially enthralled by the skiing and snowboarding simulators available for use.

The participation of a number of national and provincial team athletes and coaches added extra appeal to the events, with the public relishing the chance to learn from the experts.

"This year's National Fitness Day activities are very interesting and there are loads of new experiences on offer. It's not just about running around or spending another day in the gym," said Peng Yanjun, a local resident in Meishan, Sichuan province, who is a member of the local running association.

"Through these themed activities, we can interact closely with the professionals and learn how to use these professional facilities. It's really a lot of fun."

On-trend

In Shanghai, fitness day activities began on Saturday, with a nine-day program of fun featuring 241 sports and fitness events of various levels. These range from traditional events to more modern, on-trend sports like skateboarding, frisbee and even esports motor racing.

Meanwhile, the All-China Sports Federation has organized a community street basketball series in over 50 cities across the nation, with each stop involving over 2,000 participants of all age groups. For the most part, games are staged at community venues and large shopping malls in a bid to capture the attention of the widest possible audience.

All these events are the result of China's efforts over the years to support and invigorate the sports and fitness sector. This commitment was underlined when a revision of the Law on Physical Culture and Sports, based on the inaugural version enacted in 1995, was passed at a June session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, China's top legislature. It will take effect from Jan 1, 2023.

National fitness is a key focus of the revised law, which stipulates that local governments are responsible for providing sports facilities and activities, and that a sports adviser system is promoted nationwide.

The law also states the nation should guarantee the fair participation in sports for all people, especially juveniles, women, the elderly and those with disabilities.

Beyond Beijing 2022

This year's National Fitness Day is the first since the resounding success of the Beijing 2022 Olympics and Paralympics, so winter sports are a focus of this year's activities-even in the summer heat.

The start of the 2022 National Public Ice and Snow Carnival across various cities this week will feature events such as winter sports knowledge competitions, training experiences, equipment displays, and ice and snow culture creation.

Online winter sports challenges will allow enthusiasts to compare their performances with national team training standards and compete against each other. Moreover, public classes led by professional instructors offer expert advice to anyone who is interested.

The opening of Beijing 2022 venues to the public is particularly exciting for winter sports fans.

The Capital Indoor Stadium, the venue for short-track speed skating at the Beijing Winter Games, opened to the public last month. That came hot on the heels of the opening of the National Speed Skating Oval, also known as the "Ice Ribbon".

Winter Olympic venues in Beijing's Yanqing district and co-host city Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, have also opened to the public, allowing visitors the chance to experience the competition and living environment of the world's top athletes at Beijing 2022.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the promotion of winter sports leading up to Beijing 2022 resulted in 346 million Chinese taking part in ice and snow sports and related leisure activities. This year's National Fitness Day will keep that momentum going.

"The opening of the Beijing 2022 venues is a promise we made even before the start of the Games," said Ding. "Actually, not only the Beijing 2022 venues, we are also facilitating the opening of all top winter sports venues to the public across China … We hope ice and snow sports can reach more cities and become part of even more people's lives."

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