A member of China's top political advisory body has proposed that the eighth of August be instituted as the National Sports Day to commemorate the Beijing Olympic Games.

"Instituting the National Sports Day is a good way to commemorate the Beijing Games, and it will also help make fitness activities part of people's daily life," said Mao Yulin, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

According to the State General Administration of Sport, by 2005, about 40 percent of China's total population participate in physical exercises regularly.

The Beijing Olympics will take place from August 8 to 24.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2008)