BEIJING - CHINA now has an official day to shape up: Aug 8, the date the Beijing Olympics opened just over five months ago.

The State General Administration of Sport offered few details in announcing National Fitness Day, although the state-run China Daily said on Wednesday it might include music and dance to promote physical activity.

'The move is to meet people's need for doing sports and to further help promote sports among people,' sports minister Liu Peng was quoted telling the China Daily.

'At the same time, it is also the best way to commemorate the day the Chinese realised their ... Olympic dream.'

The inaugural day seems likely to involve some Olympic venues, many of which are seeking post-Games purposes.

The 'Bird's Nest' national stadium has been turned into a sightseeing destination. Ordinary citizens can pay 50 yuan (S$10.40) to enter the stadium and look around.

The US$450 million venue has yet to find a permanent tenant and has confirmed only one booking for this year - Puccini's opera 'Turandot,' directed by Zhang Yimou and set for Aug 8. -- AP