China Issued a Three-year Upgrade Plan to Promote the Construction of National Fitness Venues and Facilities (Part 1)

▲ Local citizens use fitness facilities at the Longhu Park in Handan city, Hebei province. [China Daily]

An upgrade plan has recently been issued to promote the construction and use of national fitness venues and facilities in China. The plan, spanning from 2023 to 2025, has been jointly issued and initiated by the General Administration of Sport of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and the People's Bank of China.

1. Main Objectives. 

By 2025, public fitness facilities in three levels of county (city, district), township (subdistrict), administrative village (community) and community 15-minute fitness circles that meet the needs of urban and rural people and match population distribution will achieve full coverage. Counties with a permanent population of over 200,000 will have at least one public stadium, track, national fitness center, sports park, or public gymnasium. Shortages of equipment for township (subdistrict) fitness venues will be made up for, and public fitness equipment in the administrative village (community) and other public spaces will be further optimized and improved. New green and convenient fitness facilities such as fitness trails, sports parks, outdoor sports facilities, etc. will be significantly increased. 

Public sports events based on fitness facilities will be more popular, the service and utilization will be further improved, digital management will be achieved, and the masses will be satisfied. And the upgrade action will become a new brand for the development of national fitness in the new era.

2. Dimensions and Principles of the Upgrade Plan.

2.1 Main contents.

Carry out four major actions of the fitness venues and facilities including strengthening the infrastructure, improving quality, optimizing services, and increasing efficiency. Expand the increment of fitness facilities, improve the quality of fitness facilities, make good use of existing fitness facilities, and improve the service access and comprehensive use efficiency of fitness facilities.

2.2 Main purpose.

On the basis of consolidating the infrastructure of fitness venues and facilities around the people and ensuring the supply of basic public services, promote the transformation of urban and rural fitness venues and facilities from "having" to "excellent", achieve improvements in quality, services, and efficiency, and popularize mass sports events, establish fitness organizations, guide scientific fitness activities, and other related work. 

2.3 Working mechanism.

The central and local governments will work together to coordinate and utilize the resources of government departments, market entities, social organizations, and the people. And the government should better play the leading role, especially in basic security and bottom-line protection, support and encourage the participation of social forces, and guide the expansion of diversified and multi-level public service supply.

2.4 Working protocols. 

Adhere to the principles of open and integrated development and work should be done for the grassroots and people. Make good use of internal and external resources of the sports system and coordinate the relationship between the construction of fitness venues and facilities and other national fitness work as well as the national development strategy. Step up support for weak areas and people to promote equalization of basic public services and make full use of modern technology to enhance the efficiency of national fitness services.

3. Strengthening Action of Fitness Facilities Infrastructure. 

3.1 Consolidate the infrastructure of urban and rural fitness facilities.

Increase the public fitness facility coverage rate at the three levels of the county (city, district), township (subdistrict), and administrative village (community), and improve the balanced layout of fitness facilities according to population distribution and the needs of people. Implement the action plan for the construction of fitness venues and facilities, and organize to deliver the upgrading project of national fitness facilities to guide and support the construction. Promote the full coverage of national fitness centers or sports parks in counties without fitness facilities.

3.2 Strengthen the allocation of elderly and child-friendly fitness facilities. 

Formulate and release guidelines for the allocation of elderly-friendly fitness facilities in public places and vigorously implement the Guidelines for the Allocation of Physical Exercise Equipment for Youth. All newly-built fitness projects should be equipped with facilities for the elderly and children. The total proportion of new fitness equipment for the elderly and children should not be less than 50% in public spaces such as communities and parks.

3.3 Expand the supply of fitness facilities in residential communities. 

Implement the opinions of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and other departments on carrying out the action to supplement shortcomings in the construction of urban residential communities. Under the requirements of the “Residential Communities Construction Standards”, fitness facilities should be equipped in residential public activity venues, community parks, and idle construction land based on local conditions. 

Source：

<https://www.gov.cn/govweb/zhengce/zhengceku/202306/content_6884623.htm>

<https://language.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202306/08/WS6481922ba31033ad3f7bb35b.html>

Edited and translated by Guo Xinxin