Sport groups get head start

Jiang Chen’s WeChat (Weixin) conversation keeps updating with new messages and he finds it difficult to stop playing games on his computer. But eventually, with his female classmates calling on the app, he gets up and puts on his soccer boots.
姜晨（音译）的微信一直不停弹出新消息，他发现自己这会儿对电脑游戏已欲罢不能。不过最终，当一位女同学发来微信邀请时，他还是起身换上了球鞋。

“If it wasn’t a group activity, I would kill another afternoon staring at my computer screen,” said the 20-year-old information major at Wuhan University of Technology.
“如果没有这项社团活动，我肯定又会整个下午都盯着电脑屏幕。”就读于武汉科技大学信息专业，20岁的姜晨说。

As the spring warmth approaches, many students are setting up sport groups. But reports show that physical activity among students on campus is still insufficient.
伴随春暖花开，学生们纷纷组建起各式各样的运动社团。但一些报告显示在校学生仍旧缺乏体育运动。

“The majority of us know that we should go out and get some exercise, which is good for your health,” said Jiang. “But there are just too many distractions, like playing computer games, social networking, reading e-magazines, or simply posting a snapshot of the dormitory on weibo.”
“大多数人都知道应该去参加一些有益健康的户外锻炼。”姜晨说，“但就是有太多事情让我们分心，例如玩游戏、上社交网站、看电子杂志或者只是拍拍寝室的照片发到微博上。”

According to Changsha Evening News, a survey conducted across seven campuses in Hunan province shows that less than 10 percent of college students work out for more than an hour every day.
据《长沙晚报》报道，一项针对湖南七所高校的调查显示，仅有不到一成的大学生每天坚持锻炼一小时以上。

Wu Jian, a researcher at the National Institute of Education Sciences, says it’s a worrisome trend.
来自中国教育科学研究院的研究员吴建（音译）称这一趋势令人担忧。

“From an early age on, the focus of school life is on studying,” said Wu. “It’s not that college students dislike sports, it’s because they’re not used to doing sports in their daily life.”
“长久以来，校园生活的重心就是学习。”吴建说。“并非大学生不爱运动，而是他们没有养成天天锻炼的习惯。”

According to his recent report on college students’ lifestyles, chatting online, playing games and watching TV dramas are the top three favorite activities on campus.
在他最新提交的一份大学校园生活报告中，学生最喜欢的三项活动分别为：在线聊天、玩游戏和看电视剧。

In contrast, more than 70 percent of college students don’t do any sports at all. That’s where sport groups can help.
相比之下，有超过七成的大学生根本不做运动。在这方面运动社团倒是可以帮上忙。

Ye Silin joined a QQ group dedicated to playing badminton. According to the 21-year-old, it’s not just a random meet-up, but an organized effort.
21岁的叶思林（音译）刚刚加入了一个羽毛球爱好者QQ群，他表示，群友不仅仅是偶尔见个面，而是有组织的进行活动。

“We have invited a badminton coach and some veteran players to join the group,” said the English major at Changchun Normal University.
“我们请来一位羽毛球教练和一些资深球友来加入群。”就读于长春师范大学英语专业的叶思林说。

“Participants can receive instructions from these experienced players as long as they chip in for renting the court. It’s a good deal.”
“群成员只要可以一起凑钱租场地，便能可以得到这些资深球友的指导。这很划算。”

For students like Zhang Qi, 19, who isn’t looking to become a competitive player, such a group with constant updates on where to play serves as a reminder to go out and leave the routine of dormitory life behind.
对于像19岁的张其（音译）这样没打算成为运动高手的人来说，这种持续发布活动信息的社团时刻提醒自己打破按部就班的寝室生活，走出去运动一下。

“The best thing about the group is that you always know there will be someone somewhere ready to play with you,” said Zhang, an e-commerce major at Beijing Union University. “College life is getting busier now, so often when you want to play with your friends they’re not available.”
“这个群最大的好处在于，你始终都知道，你想打球时，总会有人跟你结伴同乐。”来自北京联合大学电子商务专业的张其说。“现在学校里的生活节奏日益加快，所以往往你想约朋友打球时，他们都没空。”

Qin Shiyu, from the Student Affairs Department at Shanghai University, sees great potential in such campus groups, because peer pressure is the best motivation for students to do sports.
来自上海大学学生处的秦诗语（音译）老师认为这样的校园社团极具潜力，因为来自同学的压力是促使学生动起来的最大动力。

“Nobody wants to be left out from group activities,” said Qin.
“谁也不想脱离小组活动。”秦老师说。

“So when messages pop up on their smartphone, students feel the need to join in. Plus, it’s a good way of meeting people and making new friends.”
“所以当手机上弹出消息时，学生们就觉得有必要加入其中了。另外这也是结交新朋友的好方法。”

以上文章内容选自《21世纪英文报》，详情请见《21世纪英文报》1000期