Olympic Day prefaced in China with series of fitness-for-all activities

As an integral part of the Beijing Marathon's classic route, the central avenue between the Chinese capital city's iconic "Dual Olympic" venues of the Beijing National Stadium and National Aquatics Center has long been an attraction for runners and tourists alike.

On Saturday morning, a running event featuring approximately 500 participants was staged in the area, serving as one of the fitness-for-all activities held nationwide to celebrate the upcoming International Olympic Day, which will take place on Monday.

The 4.5-kilometer race was mainly centered around the National Stadium, where both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics were conducted. The finish line was close to the Beijing Olympic Museum, located south of the stadium popularly known as the "Bird's Nest."

Wang Shuchuan, a former Chinese triathlete, went to the starting area early in the morning in advance of posting a vlog. "I kept exercising and participating in marathon events after my athletic career. I hope to lead more people to join in sporting events through my videos and enlarge our running community," he said.

The race also attracted Italy's Paola Marras. "I work in Beijing. During the 2022 Winter Olympics, I watched competitions on TV." she said. "The sports atmosphere in Beijing is good, and I like the China Open [tennis tournament] in particular."

During the fitness activity, Olympic champions Ma Long and Zhang Yufei expressed their best wishes to sports lovers in an interview.

"Physical exercises are relevant to health. I can feel the public's enthusiasm for sports. The outstanding performance of Chinese athletes on the international stage inspired more people to get involved. Doing exercises is a lifelong hobby. I hope people can find the sports they love and practice in a healthy and scientific way," said 36-year-old table tennis player Ma, China's most decorated Olympian with six gold medals.

"At the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, I might not have fully understood the significance of Olympics for athletes," said 27-year-old swimming star Zhang. "Then, after winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics, I felt the power of our teamwork. Last year at the Paris Olympics, I realized that even though I had made the utmost efforts at 100 percent, it was still hard to get corresponding rewards. That is sports. But what remains unchanged is that the Olympic Spirit leads me to pursue my next goal."

Established in 1948, Olympic Day is a global celebration of sports that takes place on June 23 each year to commemorate the day the International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894, marking the birth of the modern Olympic Movement.