Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan called for promoting sports for students while leading them to study hard, encouraging a health-first educational concept in addition to all-around development.

Sun, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was attending the opening ceremony of the 14th National Student Sports Games and inspecting sports work at schools from July 12 to 13 in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong province.

She also held a national symposium on integrating sports into education during the inspection tour.

All localities and schools should deepen educational reform, pay more attention to sports teaching and help build up students’ bodies and increase their willpower, Sun said, emphasizing the importance of cultivating teenagers with physical and mental health as well as strong bodies.

Sun stressed supporting sports courses and activities by setting schedules, hiring teachers, preparing venues and holding contests.

Schools should launch more sports competitions with active participation from students, provide more diverse after-school services and help create a sound environment for this effort with the help of families and society, she added.