Radio exercises result in controversy

By Zhao Hongyi

Participants do synchronized physical exercises during a campaign to promote the daily workout at the Imperial Ancestral Temple Monday. IC Photo

On August 8, the second anniversary of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Beijing Municipal Federation of Workers’ Unions appealed for 4 million municipal government officials and workers to resume their “public gymnastics exercises” dropped in 2007 in the lead-up to the Olympics.

The federation appealed together with the Municipal Bureau of Sports and Municipal Bureau of Public Health. The resumption of the exercises began the following day.

The rhythm for these eight-minute public exercises will be broadcast every day at 10 am and 3 pm on 102.5 FM, the Beijing sports radio frequency.

The notice issued by the three municipal government agencies say the exercises must be implemented for state employees but are optional for employees of private and foreign enterprises.

The worker’s union purchased CDs and posters and invited teachers from Beijing Sports University to demonstrate moves involved in these exercises.