The free outdoor gyms that began springing up three years ago have proved very popular with residents, prompting more people to exercise regularly.Dinh Van Luyen, Head of Public Sports Division under the city’s Department of Culture and Sports, said that between 2014 and 2016, exercise equipment was installed in the seven districts.“The free outdoor gyms have been welcomed and applauded. Previously, people usually went to the parks to walk, jog or do a few stretching exercise. The Government’s decision stated that the People’s Committees should ensure resources including funding for public sports facilities. But the centre has not been built so far.The ward has 15 residential groups, but only seven have community houses and public playgrounds for sports or exercises.Deputy director of the district’s Culture and Sport Centre, Nguyen Thi Nga, said that other wards in the district did not have public playgrounds, despite the fact that land was available.“Specific regulations, at least on funding, are needed to speed up the projects,” she said. Ngo Van Quy, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, said detailed information such as the number and the minimum area of public playgrounds in a hamlet had to be compiled to implement and actualise such projects.

Source: VietNamNet News August 19, 2017 06:33 UTC