International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge on Sunday sent a message to the 1st National Fitness Walking of China.

"As we look forward to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, this event will bring together millions of people of all ages and from all walks of life in the cities of all of the provinces," Rogge told a ceremony here through satellite hookup.

"This walk, as well as the 'National Program of Fitness for All' in China fits perfectly into all the various activities scheduled in China in order to promote the values of sport and Olympism," he added.

Chinese Olympic champions Zhao Ruirui, Liu Chunhong, Chen Zhong and Wang Xu led over 10,000 Beijing dwellers in Fitness Walk Sunday morning. Other 16 Chinese major cities held the same activity at the same time.

Chinese sports authorities has been promoting "three-speed walks" in a fitness-for-all drive. The slow walk is 70-90 paces per minute and the fast is 120-140 paces, with medium-speed 90-120paces.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2005)