Political advisors brainstorm on Chinese fitness

BEIJING - Basketball star Yao Ming and other political advisors on Thursday pooled their wisdom on mobilizing citizens to take more exercise.

Speaking at a symposium held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attendees urged the setting up of a public service system for physical exercise and reform of physical education in schools. Other ideas included construction of more venues for mass exercises, competition sports leading civilian fitness and a larger role for social organizations.

The symposium, presided over by Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, is a regular event for members from various fields and backgrounds - mainly those from non-Communist parties or with no political party affiliation - to discuss and propose ideas. Discussion centered on a regulation to mobilize all citizens to exercise, which took effect in 2009.

A statement released after the meeting noted various problems such as a lack of sports resources and inadequate policy support, calling for equal efforts to develop both competition sports and public fitness.

According to the statement, public physical exercises should be incorporated into the economic and social development plans and an annual government report to ensure investment and policy support.

It stressed that students should exercise for at least one hour at school and sports infrastructures should be a part of community planning.