Xi Jinping in his office in Zhengding, Hebei in 1983.
(Published by Xinhua News Agency)
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"Outstanding Athlete Award - Dong Guihua!"
On January 20, 1985, just in time for the great cold of the lunar calendar, in the guest house in Zhengding, Hebei, the atmosphere was very lively, and a three-level cadre meeting was going on.
Different from the previous "three dry meetings", an important content of this meeting is to commend advanced.
What's new is that the awards given are very special, including the "Bole Award", "Self-taught Talent Award", "Get Rich Award", etc. The objects of recognition are not only farmers who grow flowers and chickens, but also entrepreneurs and private enterprises. There are also current students, 16-year-old Zhengding Middle School student Dong Guihua is one of the winners.
Xi Jinping attached great importance to the development of sports during his work in Zhengding. The picture shows the "Excellent Athlete Award" issued in January 1985.
(Photo source: "Xi Jinping is in Zhengding")
Dong Guihua got a small red notebook, less than the size of a slap, in which it was written that she was awarded the "Excellent Athlete Award" for participating in the 1984 Hebei Youth Track and Field Games and won silver medals in the 1500m and 3000m.
In the lower right corner of the certificate, there is a square red seal - "Xi Jinping Seal".
At that time, this was a rare thing.
Many people wondered: Why did the county party secretary give such an award?
Can you win a prize if you exercise well?
In the 1980s, all parts of the country were emphasizing economic construction, and many people felt that engaging in sports was of little significance.
The newly-appointed Zhengding County Party Secretary Xi Jinping said that the "money bag" of the common people should be swollen, the spirit should be enriched, and the body should be healthy.
He not only awarded awards to outstanding athletes, but also specially organized a county-wide sports meeting.
One day in 1984, the playground of Zhengding No. 1 Middle School was very lively.
The conditions for the Games in the county were poor, and there was no rostrum, so Xi Jinping stood and gave a speech.
He said that we must make a good start and achieve the purpose of promoting unity and making friends through the competition.
We must insist on friendship first and competition second. This is very important for carrying out mass sports activities. Let's work together to make this Games a success.
The previous sports meeting was held in 1958. Unexpectedly, after more than 20 years, the county sports meeting was held again.
Athletics, gymnastics, basketball, fitness... There are various competitions, attracting more than 1,300 participants.
When Xi Jinping saw that everyone was happy, he was also happy, and said with a smile: "The Games promote unity, which is good."
Since then, mass sports activities in Zhengding have gradually flourished. The "two games" and "two teams" promoted and constructed in the county include "stadium" and "sports team".
"Secretary Xi's consciousness was ahead of schedule, and mass sports were caught early." "Later Zhengding was able to become an advanced county in national sports, which is directly related to the good start of this county-wide sports meeting organized by Secretary Xi." Zhengding people still cherish Xi Jinping.
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In Fuzhou, 2,000 kilometers away from Zhengding, the local people still talk about the days of climbing with Xi Jinping.
Drum Mountain in Fuzhou is a gathering place for mountaineering enthusiasts and one of the favorite leisure and fitness places for citizens.
When he was governor of Fujian, Xi Jinping often found time to climb mountains there.
In June 1999, Xi Jinping participated in mountaineering and fitness activities in Fuzhou Forest Park.
(Source: "Xi Jinping in Fujian")
Every time he climbs the mountain, Xi Jinping does not bring guards, let alone block roads. He takes a bottle of water, a towel, and wears the sportswear issued by the province when he is engaged in activities, and he wears a pair of domestic sports shoes on his feet.
Some citizens recognized him and took the initiative to say hello to him: "Hello Governor Xi!" Xi Jinping always responded with a smile and waved, sometimes even chatting with everyone.
When the Fujian Mountaineering Association was established, Xi Jinping was invited to serve as the honorary president.
Unexpectedly, Xi Jinping readily agreed: "As the honorary president, I will do some practical things for the mountaineering people and promote the national mountaineering fitness exercise. Exercise can bring happiness to the people."
At that time, there was only one ancient hiking trail on Gushan Mountain. There were many people, and it was easy to bump when going up and down. There were no street lights on both sides. It was very unsafe to climb in the morning and evening. There was no shower facility at the terminal. Easy to catch cold.
Therefore, Xi Jinping held an on-site office meeting in Gushan, and decided to open two new hiking trails, one on the east of the existing ancient trail, called "Brave"; the other on the west of the ancient trail, called "Love of Pine" .
In addition, street lights have been installed on the hiking trails, and shower rooms have been built.
The crowd cheered: "Governor Xi has done a great thing for us."
Once, at 6:00 in the morning, Xi Jinping went to the Minjiang River to learn about the construction of the "National Fitness Path".
He said that if you want to see it, come early to see the situation of the people's morning exercise.
Xi Jinping stayed for a while longer, went up to shake the fitness equipment, and even went to the basketball court to shoot a basket. After seeing everyone actively working out and exercising, he left with satisfaction.
Today, the total length of trails (greenways) in Fuzhou is nearly 1,200 kilometers, including 151 hiking trails with a total length of about 479 kilometers, which are called "Fu Dao".
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In September 2020, at the symposium of representatives of experts in the field of education, culture, health and sports, Bao Mingxiao from Beijing Sports University said in his speech that some schools re-examination and exercise were neglected, and physical education classes were often squeezed.
In response to the pain point of "few venues and facilities", he put forward various suggestions for venue renovation.
Xi Jinping listened carefully.
He said: "We need to consider how to use the venue for the sports meeting after it is finished. After solving the venue, we also need to solve the mechanism, measures and methods of sports..."
On September 22, 2020, Xi Jinping presided over a symposium of experts and representatives in the fields of education, culture, health and sports in Beijing and delivered an important speech, listening to opinions and suggestions on economic and social development during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period.
Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ju Peng
Xi Jinping especially emphasized the correct concept of sports: "On the one hand, children must be allowed to run. On the other hand, physical exercise must be scientific, well-protected and prepared to help students enjoy fun, enhance their physique, and improve their personality in physical exercise. , exercise will."
From encouraging young people to actively participate in physical exercise to promoting "300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports", to repeatedly emphasizing the importance of national fitness on different occasions... Xi Jinping has always been an advocate, leader and practitioner of national fitness.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, national fitness has officially become a national strategy and has received unprecedented attention.
Countless Chinese people who love fitness are feeling the changes.
Data show that by the end of 2021, there will be 3.971 million sports venues nationwide, with a sports venue area of 3.41 billion square meters and a per capita sports venue area of 2.41 square meters.
The problem of "where to go to exercise" that everyone cares about is being solved, and the people's willingness to exercise is also increasing.
August 8 this year is China's 14th "National Fitness Day".
To be happy and healthy in life is very important.
"From a sports powerhouse to a healthy China, people's health, people's physique, and people's happiness are all in the same line." Xi Jinping said, "This is the meaning of the all-round well-off and all-round modernization. Its meaning is seen in the small. Big."
Text / Zhiqiu
Source/People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, "Xi Jinping in Zhengding", "Xi Jinping in Fujian", etc.