More than just medals

It's an Olympic year again. No matter what jumps to your mind when you think of the Games in Beijing in 2008 - the remarkable grand opening ceremony, China's first time atop the gold medal tally, the unexpected disappointment of star hurdler Liu Xiang's withdrawal - a new stage is being prepared in London.

But for ordinary people, an Olympic year should bring more than cheers or tears - it should bring a more healthy way of living to China.

Such a large, populous nation has more to be proud of than a gold medal tally. Promoting athletic participation among common people and making young people strong and healthy should be more important.

As retired Chinese basketball icon Yao Ming said, sports should go into communities. Just days ago, Yao said sports is about more than just good results in competitions.

"In the sports field, we should jump out of the concept of 'one becomes the victor and the other hides in a corner of the yard'," he said. "Actually, we misunderstand the word sports. It should be physical education, not just competitions."

There is a prevailing sense that Olympic victories raise the people's morale and give them a sense of pride.

An Olympic year is always a golden opportunity to carry out the National Fitness Program by inspiring the public to take up sports and raise its awareness of the need to exercise to keep fit.

Sports officials are heading in the right direction.

China launched its National Fitness Program in 1995, aiming to improve the health and physical condition of the population. The program encourages everyone to engage in at least one sport actively every day, learn at least two ways of keeping fit and have a health examination every year.

An outline for the 2012 fitness program has also been worked out.

The main points include improving the evaluation system that will be done by the government at all levels, improving the services at all the public sports venues and building up more groups of trainers among communities.

It is reported the annual investment for promoting the national fitness program has reached 800 million yuan ($127 million).

The next step will be to implement the programs.

After the Beijing Olympic Games, Aug 8 was named as National Fitness Day. First-class sports venues, such as the Water Cube and the Olympic Sports Center, have been opened to the public.

I hope Chinese athletes will reach new levels of success at the London Olympics.

I also hope the London Olympics will bring back more tangible benefits to ordinary people in China.

Fitness for all is the most valuable gold medal.

Let's welcome the Olympic year by heading out to exercise.

Lei Lei is a sports copy editor at the China Daily. She can be reached at leilei@chinadaily.com.cn