Lifestyle
2024/8/30
source: International Daily
Print
China is striving to set up 15-minute fitness circles and support the construction of public fitness venues and facilities to improve the public fitness programs and raise awareness of sports.
In 2014, China proposed to promote "15-minute fitness circles" in urban communities, providing physical exercise facilities that residents can reach within 15 minutes. The country plans to fulfill the construction of 15-minute fitness circles covering all communities by the end of 2025.
The Nanyuan Street Comprehensive Cultural Center in Hangzhou City's Linping District of east China's Zhejiang Province has set aside a space specifically for local table tennis enthusiasts. The center is equipped with table tennis tables, paddles, chairs, and other facilities, and regularly hosts table tennis matches with various themes.
"[The center] is now fully equipped with facilities including air conditioning and bathrooms, and provides hot water. It is also bright. I have made many friends here and feel quite happy," said Su Jianying, a local resident.
In addition to indoor recreational spaces, the expansion of green areas, parks and leisure zones has significantly improved opportunities for residents to participate in outdoor fitness activities.
So far, local governments have worked hard to promote the construction of embedded sports facilities in urban communities, utilizing vacant land, parks, waterfront greenways, spaces under bridges, and even rooftops in the vicinity of communities.
Under the Tianning Temple Bridge located on the West Second Ring Road in Beijing, a transformed leisure space now serves as a sports field and children's playground.
"While the 15-minute fitness circle highlights the concept of time frame, the idea behind it is to establish exercise facilities conveniently located near residents, facilitating the local residents to engage in fitness activities easily and conveniently. It is believed that everyone can also see that there are increasingly more paths for public fitness around the community," said Zhang Fan from the mass sports department of the General Administration of Sport of China.