Happy life "moves" - "National Ball Two-Enter" activity stimulates national fitness enthusiasm in Beijing
2024-08-15
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"It only takes ten minutes to ride here from home!" During the summer vacation when the Olympics happened, brothers Liu Yitong and Liu Yixuan, who live in Shijingshan District of Beijing, began to develop a strong interest in table tennis, and the table tennis table in the International Sculpture Park near their home became their first choice for practice.
The two brothers are able to enjoy the fun of table tennis nearby thanks to the "National Ball into the Community" and "National Ball into the Park" (hereinafter referred to as "National Ball Two Enterings") activities organized by the General Administration of Sport of China and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development since 2023. By accumulating small amounts into large ones, connecting points with lines, and using lines to lead areas, fitness facilities are built in old communities and green parks with the most densely populated and the most land-constrained areas, effectively opening up the "last mile" of fitness for the masses.
Reporters recently visited many places in Beijing and found that in Beijing's old residential areas and city parks, more and more table tennis enthusiasts are going to fitness venues, turning their hobby into a habit and finding happiness in the sport.
At the table tennis corner of the Bajiao Community Cultural Square in Shijingshan District, Li Shuping and her neighbors were playing table tennis fiercely. The 74-year-old girl had silver curly hair and was full of energy and spirit.
In the interview, the old woman talked about her fate with the Olympics, because "after seeing Deng Yaping win the gold medal in the Olympics, I felt that I was no worse than her, so I just practiced casually every day." In 2008, Beijing hosted the Olympic Games. Inspired by the spirit of the athletes, Li Shuping signed up for the community table tennis competition. She won the community championship that year by "just practicing casually."
"I play table tennis for an hour at my doorstep every morning from 8 to 9. It's both a physical exercise and a lot of fun," said Li Shuping.
Li Qi, deputy director of the Bajiao Subdistrict Office, said that the subdistrict has many old residential areas and a high proportion of elderly people, so table tennis is very suitable for this area. Currently, there are 40 indoor and outdoor table tennis tables in 25 communities in the subdistrict, with a coverage rate of 60%. "In order to give everyone a better sports experience, we often consult residents about their needs. In the first half of the year, everyone reported that the table tennis fence in the Cultural Square was ventilated and affected their playing, so we installed a transparent windshield on the fence."
Zhou Cailiang, deputy director of the Shijingshan District Sports Bureau, introduced that from 2023 to 2024, Shijingshan District invested hundreds of thousands of yuan in sports lottery public welfare funds, and successively configured 50 new indoor table tennis tables for 32 community committees in the district, and 71 new outdoor table tennis tables for 21 community committees, consolidating the table tennis hardware resources and meeting the daily needs of the people.
Facilities are the foundation, and events are the driving force. Coincidentally on the 16th "National Fitness Day", on the afternoon of August 8, at the Longtan Zhonghu Park table tennis court, after a fierce competition, the 17-year-old Zhi Yuelun defeated the 62-year-old experienced veteran and won the men's singles championship of the 2024 Dongcheng District "National Ball into the Community and Park" Table Tennis League.
Zhi Yuelun is a student at Guangqumen Middle School. He fell in love with table tennis when he was young due to the influence of his grandfather. As a "secret weapon" to relieve the pressure of study, he plays table tennis for two hours every Saturday when he is about to enter the third year of high school. The professional table tennis facilities at his doorstep are the key to his study and interest.
Pu Zhao, deputy director of the Dongcheng District Sports Bureau, said: "Holding various mass events not only meets the fitness needs of the people, but also mobilizes their fitness enthusiasm. For example, the 'Harmony Cup' table tennis tournament is a brand event in Dongcheng District and has been held for 18 consecutive years. This year's 'Harmony Cup' has nearly 200 players from 17 communities in various streets participating in the competition."
Pu Zhao introduced that thanks to the strong support of the Sports Lottery Public Welfare Fund, Dongcheng District has built 364 table tennis fitness venues with a total area of 57,041 square meters. "Not only should the venues be built at the doorstep, but also high-level competitions should be brought to the people, hoping to allow more people to go to the fitness venues, gain health and feel happiness from sports."
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 13, reporter Wang Chujie)
Guangming Daily (Page 09, August 14, 2024)
Source: Guangming Daily
