Olympic Extremes: Fitter And Fatter

News from London that hosting the Olympic Games might not increase sporting participation merely echoes news from China of soaring childhood obesity and declining participation in school physical education (P.E.).

Unlike other nations, however, China's declining youth sports participation is likely to be masked in international sporting competition. While preparing to host the Games, China has concurrently developed a system of specialized sports schools, set to sustain the medal-table victory likely to be achieved in 2008.

(Photo: Mark Leong / Matrix)

That still leaves 15.1% of boys in Shanghai as "obese" (compared with 18% of boys in the U.S. as "overweight"). In an attempt to turn things around, the city authorities have mandated more P.E. and inclusion of P.E. grades in overall assessments of students' performances. Most Western societies would do well to flip the same switch.