Since the time China won the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games on July 13, 2001, it introduced a nationwide educational campaign based on the Olympics. Speaking on this issue, Gao Hong, vice director of the Basic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), said that this educational campaign has been instrumental in disseminating knowledge about Olympics among the youth and thereby increasing its popularity. ‘It (the campaign) also works to encourage the students to be more involved into the various sports activities and preserve the cultural heritage of the Games,’ Gao remarked.

Under this educational campaign on Olympics, 556 model schools were set up and these comprise common and secondary schools, vocational schools, special education schools as well as multi-ethnic schools. Furthermore a ‘heart-to-heart’ partnership program was started under this campaign, which witnessed active involvement of Beijing’s 210 primary and secondary schools, 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and 160 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs). This educational program includes exchanging activities, greeting activities in the Team Welcome Ceremony at the Olympic Village or Paralympic village as well as cheer leading activities for their partner delegation at the competitions venues.