BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Some 600 sports and government representatives, delegates from UN agencies, NGOs and academics from around the world are meeting in Beijing as the 14th World Conference on Sport for All opened Wednesday in the Chinese capital city.

The three-day Conference, organized by the International Olympic Committee, in cooperation with the World Health Organization and SportAccord, will focus on the practical implementation of sport for all programs and consist of discussions on such subjects as "Follow-up of the 2010 World Conference on Sport for All", "Programs and policies: the practical and theoretical foundations of Sport for All", "Development and promotion of Sport for All, in particular the roles of different stakeholders", "Health and social benefits of physical activity" and "Future directions".

When addressing the opening of the Conference, IOC President Jacques Rogge said that everybody should have access to sport, and promoting Sport for All has always been an integral part of the Olympic Movement.

"The IOC tries to make this vision a reality through advocacy, programmes and the funding of activities at grassroots levels," said Rogge.

Liu Qi, chairman of the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA), said in his address that the Chinese government has attached great importance to the development of Sport for All, and after years of efforts, the public fitness facilities and security have been improved, people's awareness for fitness has been much enhanced, fitness methods have become more scientific and fitness activities have been greatly enriched.

At the opening ceremony, Rogge presented three IOC Sport for All awards to three organizations. The awards, which are granted for the first time, are Award for Healthy and Social Benefits of Sports Activities, Award for Programs and Policies, and Award for Development and Promotion of Sport for All.

In 1985, IOC established the Sport for All Commission, which proposed to hold World Conference on Sport for All. The first World Conference on Sport for All was held in Cologne, Germany in 1986, since when the Conference has been held biennially.

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