On 20 October 2024, the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) hosted the “Youth Health Talk” – Second Olympic Friends Salon of the Olympic Games Community at the Beijing Olympic Museum. Shan Liang, member of the former Qingdao Sailing Committee of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, introduced her new book Go, Duo Meiduo! at the salon, and several Olympic builders and experts shared their experiences and insights. On behalf of the other five book recommenders (Li Lingwei, Zhang Yimin, Liu Fang, Mo Huilan and Sun Rui), Liu Jingmin, member of the Expert Committee and former Executive Vice President of BODA, donated 600 books to the charity project Jiai Library, which will distribute the books to 100 primary school libraries. Nearly 60 friends of the Olympic Games Community and their families were present at the event.

Liu Jingmin gives books to children

Wang Fang, founder of Jiai Library, presents a certificate of thanks to Liu Jingmin on behalf of Jiai Library and the schools

Shan Liang shared why and how she created the new book from several perspectives, including her own journey in understanding physical literacy, the evalsuation indicators for youth health, how she found character inspiration from family life and how she gained a deeper understanding of body functions during her illness. She also introduced the key mechanisms for enhancing physical health and encouraged the children to pump themselves up and engage in sports to improve their physical health.

Shan Liang shares the purpose and content of her new book

Jiang Jing, Vice President of the Qingdao Olympic Sailing City Development Association (QOSCDA), stated that the Olympic friends, scattered across different regions and sectors after the Olympic Games, have all performed outstandingly in their respective fields. It is hoped that more Olympic friends will care for the physical health of children and adolescents and support the development of sailing in Qingdao. Wang Lili, product director and associate editor of People’s Oriental Publishing & Media, said that for the publisher, an accessible and easy-to-understand approach should be taken when it comes to sports themed publications, and Go, Duo Meiduo uses a narrative storyline and plain language to present interesting knowledge about physical health and simple exercises, making it potentially a bestseller. Ding Zhaojin, chief of the Youth Health Service Platform and director of the Sports Nutrition Branch of the Chinese Association for Student Nutrition & Health Promotion, said that the newly released book on youth health is a partnership between Shan Liang and the Youth Health Service Platform and aims to guide teachers, students and parents to learn about physical health and sports, cultivate a love for sports in children and help them learn how to take care of their physical health.

Jiang Jing, Wang Lili and Ding Zhaojin share their experiences

Tian Yiding, a physical education teacher at Zhengze School in Beijing and former speed skating event coordinator of the Sports Department of Beijing 2022, said that for physical education teachers, this book is more like a reference book, and the child communication methods and techniques introduced in the book can be directly applied to daily instructional practices. Kou Chenfei, a student of Beijing No. 11 School, a Chinese women’s ice hockey player and a bronze medallist in women’s 3-on-3 ice hockey at the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, said that sports have taught her perseverance and improved her physical fitness. She hoped that more young people will actively engage in sports, which will definitely bring them unexpected gains. Shen Yifeng, a member of the Chinese Paralympic ice hockey team and a bronze medallist at the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, said that the fighting spirit shown by the athletes at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics inspired him to pursue a professional career in sports and realize his own worth, and the book Go, Domedo! provides multiple methods for him to work better as an assistant coach.

Tian Yiding, Kou Chenfei and Shen Yifeng share their experiences

The Olympic Games Community serves as a platform connecting BODA and Olympic builders involved in the bidding of, preparation for and operation of Beijing 2008 and the Beijing 2022 Games, with the aim of bringing together talents who contributed to the two editions of the Olympic Games and pooling strengths for carrying forward the Olympic legacy and promoting regional development. Olympic friends are encouraged to participate in various sports and cultural activities. Currently, the Olympic Running Club and the Olympic Games Community Choir enrich the amateur life of Olympic friends and also show the public the uplifting and positive spirit of Olympic builders. The Olympic Friends Salon will be held on an ad-hoc basis, and a variety of lectures, interviews, workshops and other activities on multiple topics will be organised to strengthen the bond among Olympic friends, promote the Olympic spirit and spread the Olympic culture.

Go, Duo Meiduo! tells the story of Duo Meiduo, a sixth-grader at Caiyuan Primary School, who got anxious about weight gain as the new school term started. The head teacher named Ma Da and the teaching assistant robot Ma Tutu impart a wealth of knowledge about physical health and lively, fun exercises to guide Duo Meiduo and other students to care for their physical health, engage in exercises and lead a healthy lifestyle. The book provides children with a broad range of knowledge about physical health and sports, helping them find their own answers to the question “Why do we need to exercise?”