Beijing, August 08: China marked the first anniversary of the Beijing Olympics today with its first national sports day that saw up to 34,000 people gather for the world’s largest martial arts exercise.
“We have established August 8 as National Fitness Day to fully embody… the government’s loving concern for the life and prosperity of the people,” Sports Minister Liu Peng said in an address outside the iconic Bird’s Nest national stadium.
“This is a vivid reflection of the legacy that the Beijing Olympics has left for the people, the society and our system.”
Liu’s remarks came as nearly 34,000 people dressed in white silk performed “taiqiquan,” or martial arts shadow boxing, in the drizzling rain outside the stadium early Saturday morning.
Ranging in age from seven to 65, the shadow boxers hope to set a Guinness world record for the largest martial arts exercise, organisers said.
–PTI