A sports festival is launched in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, on June 13. [Photo/WeChat account: zsqdly] 

Zhoushan, a city in East China's Zhejiang province, launched a sports festival on June 13, according to local media reports.

The festival, now in its third year, will feature 24 sporting events, including football, basketball, badminton, ping pong, running, and chess.

In addition, four non-profit fitness training sessions will be offered to the public.

The event, jointly sponsored by the Zhoushan Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio and Television Tourism and Sports and the Zhoushan Municipal Sports Federation, is a part of local authorities' efforts to advocate a healthier lifestyle among local residents. 

A youth roller skating contest was held after the opening ceremony for the festival at Haicheng Plaza, with more than 40 people participating.

In addition to sporting events, local authorities, in cooperation with 16 local sports and fitness stadiums and training agencies, plan to issue 2,000 coupons allowing locals to enter sports venues for martial arts, taekwondo, football, etc, free of charge.

The sports festival is slated to run until the end of July and is expected to attract more than 5,000 participants.