Second Women's Sports Forum on National Universities Opens in Beijing

On September 18, the Second Women's Sports Forum on National Universities and the Fifth Women's Sports Forum in Beijing Higher Institutes kicked off at Renmin University of China.

The forum was co-sponsored by the Women's Education Professional Committee of the Chinese Women's Research Society (CWRS) and Beijing Women's Sports Society for Higher Institutes, and co-organized by Renmin University of China and China Women's University. 

Liu Liqun, President of China Women's University(CWU), Wu Fulai, Deputy Secretary of Renmin University of China, and Du Songpeng, Chairman of the Federation of University Sports of Beijing attended the conference and delivered speeches.

Citing the current state of affairs at Renmin University of China, Wu emphasized the importance of women's participation in sports. On Behalf of the organizers, Liu said that it was very significant that the forum was being held in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women.

Liu expressed her view that all members of society should be fully conscious of the importance of physical education for the all-round development of women. In the meantime, they should keep learning and practicing so as to benefit these groups in the future. 

Du put forth expectations for research on women's sports, and suggested doing more grounded researches to improve college students' health levels.

After the opening ceremony, the UN Women's project coordinator Guo Ruixiang held a seminar titled "Promoting Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment -- The UN Women Will Always be Your Accompanist". She laid special emphasis on the concept of "He For She", which was advocated by the UN for men's participation in promoting gender equality.

Focused on "Women, Sports, and Development", the forum made a strong connection between sports and women's development in accordance with recent social trends. The forum had received over 120 thesis submissions since March. Among them, 74 commended essays were included in the associated publication "Research on Health Development of Sports and Modern Women".

At the sub-forums "Women's Social Sports" and "Women's School Sports", award-winning scholars presented their research. At the following award ceremony, Liu Zheng, deputy director of the Department of Physical, Health and Arts Education, from the Ministry of Education of the PRC; Li Mingshun, CWU vice-president and director-general of Beijing Women's Sports Society for Higher Education; Zheng Zhiyou, director of editorial department of Physical Education Journal, and Du Songpeng issued certificates to the first prizes winners.

More than 120 experts from 40 universities across the country attended the meeting. The participants also discussed the hot topics to do with women's sport at home and abroad, how to build discipline, the development of teachers, as well as other related scientific research.

(Source: China Women's University/Translated and edited by Women of China)