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SCMP Reporter

HONG KONG today will attempt to win its third consecutive International Challenge Day .

  Politicians, schoolchildren and the elderly will be among those taking part in a host of activities to 'out-exercise' this year's opposition in Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia.

  Eighty per cent of all Hong Kong people were said to have participated in last year's event against the two million people of Budapest, Hungary, and blitzed the opposition who had only a 16 per cent turnout rate.

  But the territory's success has been shrouded in controversy with members of the public querying the high participation rate.

  Figures are obtained by counting the number of registered participants who pledge to do the exercise on the day. Participants are asked to register by calling the Challenge Day Hotline 1878188.

  People are asked to do a minimum of 15 minutes physical activity and a number of events will be put on by the Regional Council, which is organising this year's event.

  Among the events will be a mass rope-skipping this morning led by council vice-chairman Chow Yick-hay in Po Tsui Park, Sai Kung, with about 1,000 people expected to participate.

  More mass skipping will take place in Sha Tsui Road Sports Ground in Tsuen Wan, along with three-on-three basketball events and a tug-of-war with a double decker bus during the closing ceremony at 8 pm.

 With the 30-degree-plus temperatures forecast for today, many participants are also expected to head for the territory's swimming pools and beaches for their 15 minutes of exercise.

  Both the Urban and Regional Councils have arranged for free use of selected facilities around the territory such as public pools and sports grounds.

  And office workers also will not be exempt from participating. They will be encouraged to 'workercise' by wiggling in chairs while on the phone or repeatedly dropping pens on the floor and picking them up.

  Last year Urban Council chairman Dr Ronald Leung Ding-bong and former Regional Council chairman Cheung Yan-lung participated in a mass Tai Chi exercise in Sha Tin involving about 10,000 people.



Day of exercise to test territory