Beijing (CNS) -- The 14th World Conference on Sport for All organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) got underway Wednesday at the China National Convention Centre in Beijing. It is the first event of its kind to be held in China.
The conference advocates public sports by sharing experiences and practices, and encourages healthy and happy lifestyles regardless of age, physical and mental condition, social and economic situation, or regional differences.
"Our hope is that when you go back to your respective cities and countries, you will be able to implement on the ground what you have learnt or discovered during this Conference," IOC President Jacques Rogge told participants at the Opening Ceremony. "I think we all agree: In the end it is not just about talking, but about taking action and seeing concrete results. We can always do more to get more people moving and taking exercise."
The three-day conference includes five themes on its agenda: follow-up of the 2010 World Conference on Sport for All; health and social benefits of physical activity; programs and policies: the practical and theoretical foundations of Sport for All; development and promotion of Sport for All, in particular the roles of different stakeholders; and future directions.
During the first day of the seminar, representatives from the China Olympic Youth Development Center, the Singapore Sports Council, World Sports Chicago and the Nanjing Youth Olympic Committee exchanged successful experiences and future plans for respective youth sports movements.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., son of lifelong IOC honorary chairman Juan Antonio Samaranch Torelló and member of the IOC, addressed the specific issue of childhood obesity, evaluating the high importance of youth sporting events.
The IOC also set up a special grant for the conference. The winning programs included Eco Sports Group - Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ethiopia - Sport Builds Bridges; and the Health Qigong Administrative Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Health Qigong Association.
