Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, will continue promoting public sports, football and athletics this year, in accordance with its target of becoming a sports and leisure city.

In the past 2015, Baotou has made remarkable accomplishments in sports development and has been named one of the ten "Sports and Leisure Cities" by China Sports Daily and the www.china.com.

This year Baotou will hold more events to enhance the city's sports and leisure. Rated a national civilized city, national garden city, national forest city and having more than 70 public squares and 13 square meters of green space per capita, Baotou has many advantages. Next, the city will hold more branding events to expand the city's sports influence.

Baotou will construct facilities for public exercises, and create sport grounds and recreational centers in rural and residential areas around the city.

In addition, the city will also strengthen sports guidance and enhance its health monitoring.

It will enhance its competitiveness in sports by optimizing sports layout, focusing on key schools and projects, and training athletes.

The city will accelerate its sports industrialization in 2016. It will improve the overall environment for sports development and encourage people to play and watch athletic events.

Besides, as a national pilot city, Baotou will build itself into a northern football city by improving training and sports facilities.

Scene of a football game in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/Baotou Evening]