LUCKY FEW: Compared with most other migrant workers, those working at Beijing's Olympic venues have earned a relative fortune

It is suggested that August 8, the opening day of the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing, should be made China's Sports Day to promote sports and fitness activities among the ordinary people. The proposal has met active response from sports authorities and many influential public figures.

Days designated for special purposes are not strange to the Chinese. Take the Tree-planting Day for example. On this day, the whole country actively took part in afforestation activities, but afterward a lot of saplings are left unattended. Without a well-devised plan, it's quite possible that the Sports Day, if it becomes a reality, will follow the lethargic trend of the Tree-planting Day.

The significance of sports lies in persistence. Only continuous sports efforts can help athletes to perform well and ordinary people keep fit.

The suggestion of setting up a sports day means raising the public awareness of participation in sports and health building. But how can a one-day event really help promote the whole nation's health?

It's really significant to put more effort into the improvement of sports facilities and make it easier for the public to take part in sports activities.

Guangzhou Daily

Migrants' Better Deal

The highest paid migrant workers who constructed the Bird's Nest stadium, a main venue of the Beijing Olympics, could earn as much as 5,000 yuan ($700) per month, with the average wage being 2,500 yuan ($350). They were also provided with a 6,600-square-meter service area, equipped with libraries, supermarkets, Internet rooms and a cinema. Besides, 4,000 experienced workers were employed as work safety inspectors.

China is now home to 120 million farmers-turned-workers and the number is growing at 5 million a year. They pay taxes in cities where they work, but due to state policy restrictions, their rights in employment, wages and welfare services are always impaired.

As for how to protect the legitimate rights of migrant workers, the authorities have done a lot to improve existing policies. However, mandatory standards on migrant workers' wages and other living conditions are not in place. Now, Olympic workers' treatment is undoubtedly a good example to follow.

Procuratorial Daily

Consumers' Mature Attitude

The announcement on July 29 to cut the wholesale price of edible oil has brought down its retail price by 20 percent. But the market remained stable despite this big discount.

Usually, sharp price reductions of food, especially edible oil, should have boosted sales, but this time consumers appear very calm. This may be attributed to their confidence in the government's regulation efforts.

Since the second half of 2007, the government has adopted strict measures to curb the rampant price hikes of edible oil. The National Development and Reform Commission, the pricing regulator, warned edible oil manufacturers to act in accordance with law when they adjust prices. Last April, the commission turned down the country's four major edible oil producers' application for a price increase. All these indicate that the price of edible oil is unlikely to continually rise as in the past.

Consumer confidence is likely to be destroyed by such factors as enterprises' price manipulation and fraud, causing a change in their consumption patterns. Instead, a mature market based on sound competition, together with the government's proper regulation, will help to increase people's consumption confidence and make them more rational in shopping behavior.

Shanghai Business

Education Cycle Stymied

Of the 10.1 million senior high school graduates participating in the 2007 national college entrance examination, 2.89 million, or 28.6 percent, were returning students, who took one more year's study for a second attempt to enter college. Not all of the students failed the previous exam. They chose to try again because they hoped they could score higher than before and would therefore be enrolled in better universities.

Increasing numbers of returning students will make it more difficult for new graduates to be recruited, as every year's recruitment quota is limited. Of those who fail this year's examination, many will compete for enrollment opportunities with next year's graduates.

Graduates from prestigious universities always find it easier to move ahead in life. They are more popular with employers than their peers from lesser-known colleges. This is because employers believe that prestigious universities are equipped with better facilities, teachers and learning environment, and the graduates are therefore more capable.

The recruitment pressure on new graduates should not be blamed on returning students. After all, everyone has the right to control their own destiny. As long as a system of employment and promotion on merit remains absent, the cutthroat competition for student status at prestigious universities is bound to continue.

Qianjiang Evening News