Sponsored by Beijing
EldersĄŻ Sports Association in 1997, Beijing EldersĄŻ Physical
Exercise Show
(Originally named as Physical Exercise Show by Middle-aged
and senior citizens) has been successfully held for 9 times.and
the only break was in 1997ĄŻs national ceremony.) This year
will see its 8th running.
Over the eight years, the activity has gained increasing popularity
among middle-aged and senior citizens with a wider range of
performance and increasing popularity. It has become an annual
tradition as well as a brand-name activity.
The activity, adhering to the outline of Physical Exercise
for the whole city, is in hopes of promoting scientific ways
of body exercising and enriching sporting activities for elders.
More importance is attached to participation while competitions
are less stressed. The activity is a search and promotion
for good physical exercise suitable for elders.
Each show features a variety of events including traditional
ones like Taijiquan, Tajijian, Yangge (a popular rural folk
dance), and waist drum dance as well as popular ones like
ball game, Hula Hoop and pop-top game. Each show sees new
events and better performance of traditional ones. On the
ceremony of the 50th anniversary of the speech on Developing
Sports and Strengthening Body by Chairman Mao, the awarded
programes are from the previous shows.
To inspire the enthusiasm of participation, prizes come in
the name of Excellent Prize, Winning Prize, Best Performance
Prize, and Creation Prize instead of Gold Medal, Silver Medal
and Copper Medal. The best organization prize is also awarded
to the teams that have organized a district event. In doing
so, each of participant can get a prize, which is to the satisfaction
of all. Over these years of development, the show has been
attracting more and more participants with the number increasing
from 20 teams at first, 49 in 2001, and 60 in 2002 to 84 in
2003. In 2004, Among 200 local teams, 43 were selected to
the city show. It has inspired eldersĄŻ participation in sports
at all levels in 2003, 11 excellent events from the previous
shows were introduced to the public, of which 8 were awarded
the excellent fitness events.
In future, more improvement will be made by EldersĄŻ Sports
Association to better serve the middle-aged and senior citizen
and contribute to the 2008 Olympic Games.
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