(Beijing, August 8) To mark the first anniversary of the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games and to meet the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the First National Fitness Day was launched in Beijing's Olympic Park on August 8, 2009, where a spectacular 24-Form Taijiquan Demonstration added to the festive atmosphere and at the same time rewrote the Guinness world record of 30,648 people giving a huge group performance of taijiquan set in a time of 16mins 40secs in Luoyang of central China's Henan Province on April 1, 2004.
At eight o'clock in the morning, the National Fitness Day celebration officially began at the Olympic Park, with 34,000 people from central government and municipal organizations, universities, enterprises, clubs, community organizations and social groups, including some 200 disabled persons, 90 high-ranking government officials, 12 wushu stars and world champions performing the 24-form taijiquan in the light rain. After six minutes of performance, it was confirmed that 33,996 people had completed the performance, which meant a new Guinness world record was created.
A mass sports activity of Chinese tradition, the taijiquan performance was organized by China's General Administration of Sport, Civilization Office of the CPC Central Committee, Beijing municipal government, All-China Sports Federation and Beijing Municipal Administration of Sport.