The General Office of the Zhejiang Provincial Government recently published guidelines on the management of the province's public sports facilities. The document will go into effect on Jan 1, 2021.

The public sports facilities referred to include buildings, locales, and equipment involving non-profit sports stadiums, swimming pools, and gyms that are run by local authorities or social organizations.

The guidelines require local governments to step up construction on public sports facilities in rural areas as well as old residential communities and parks.

New facilities should be made more accessible to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

All public sports facilities, barring seasonal ones, should be open to the public for at least 70 hours per week and 330 days per year. They should also remain open for no less than 12 hours per day during public holidays and winter and summer vacations.

All public sports facilities should be open to the public free of charge, except those charging necessary fees to cover their operating costs and which have the approval of local authorities to do so.

Public schools are encouraged to open their sports facilities to the public on non-school days and in the evening on school days.