China to increase rural access to sports facilities

BEIJING -- China aims to equip nationwide villages with sports facilities including a standard basketball court and two table tennis tables, in an effort to promote fitness for all.

Nearly 570,000 villages throughout the country currently have access to such facilities, but the remaining 50,000 are not covered yet by the program, said Lang Wei, an official with the General Administration of Sport (GAS).

China has unveiled a new action plan to implement the country's Healthy China initiative and promote people's health. According to the plan, the per capita area dedicated to sports venues will reach 1.9 and 2.3 square meters by 2022 and 2030, respectively.

The action plan also proposes 6,000 to 10,000 footsteps' walking or running as the standard amount of daily exercise per individual, and encourages the public to include more physical activities in their daily life.

China marks its National Fitness Day on Aug 8. This year, various activities will be held to promote exercising among the public, said the GAS.