Gao Hong is no stranger to rigorous training. A request by a factory boss to play for the company team nearly two decades ago was the beginning of a soccer career that would see her compete in two Olympic Games, taking home silver medals both times.
Tough coaching paid off for the Chinese goalkeeping legend at both Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000. As China gears up for the Olympics next year, Ms Gao is again taking to the training pitch.
This time she has swapped the national women's soccer team for a group of seven- to 10-year-old schoolchildren in Beijing and Tianjin . The goalie these days is less concerned with shiny medals than with the frailty of mainland children's health.
Ms Gao is programme director for a non-profit group working with the Ministry of Sport that hopes to get children on their feet and into playgrounds. Kicking off this semester, Right to Play is going into the schools with up to 100 games for students.
'We use sports and play time as a tool to help children grow up and learn life skills, such as communication, teamwork, respect and dealing with conflict,' Ms Gao said. Four schools have been chosen in each city, but the plan is to expand the numbers in the coming years.
Both the central government and Right to Play are hoping to get heart rates up in schools as traditional sports programmes fail to enthuse children in large cities, who are increasingly struggling with obesity.
As the mainland's affluence grows, its waistlines are rapidly expanding. The problem is particularly alarming among urban youths as westernised diets and sedentary lifestyles take their toll.
