The commendatory meeting for Sailing in Schools in Qingdao 2006-2010 and the launch ceremony for Sailing in Schools in Qingdao 2011-2015 were held yesterday. Mayor Xia Geng announced the opening of Sailing in Schools in Qingdao 2011-2015 and the Sunny Sports of Million Students in Qingdao 2011. He also granted the flag of sailing promotion to the representatives from the Sailing Association of Ocean University of China.

    ISAF and Chinese Yachting Association had sent congratulatory letter to this meeting. Zang Aimin, member of the Standing Committee host the meeting with Ma Ze, deputy director of municipal Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Wang Xiulin, deputy mayor and Shao Fengjing, Vice chairman of Qingdao People's Political Consultative attending the meeting.

    The meeting summarized the first five-year plan of Sailing in Schools in Qingdao. In 2006, Qingdao City launched Sailing in Schools to promote youth sailing. Good results were got in these five years guided by Qingdao authority, supported by public and joined by youths. General Administration of Sport awarded Qingdao the Model City of Youths Sailing Promotion of China. Jacques Rogge, president of IOC and Göran Petersson had a high opinion of the youths sailing development in Qingdao. The method of Qingdao should be extended to the whole Asia to promote the development of sailing in Asia.

    Qingdao will implement the second five-year plan of Sailing in Schools based on the fruitful first one, and to lay the foundation of sailing talents for Qingdao to be a sailing city and a water sports city.

    From 2011-2015, Qingdao City will be committed to carry on Olympic spirit, popularize youth sailing, train young sailing talents making Qingdao a sailing city. The resources and technical advantages of education, sports and other sectors should be fully utilized. We should strengthen communication and exchange with the countries of high-level sailing to make Sailing in Schools better. We will try our best to own 100 schools with sailing events, eight public youths sailing clubs. At least 100 thousand youths will have the experience of sailing training. More young talents of sailing will be sent to the national sailing team.

    Excellent units and individuals of Sailing in Schools in Qingdao 2006-2010 were awarded in the meeting. A student from Dunhua Road Elementary school proposed the plan of Sailing Together. The list of 93 schools with sailing events were also announced in the meeting.