Should colleges charge public for fields?

Public access to sports facilities has become a concern for sports authorities over the years. There are many venues for big sports events in the country, but facilities for people to exercise daily are not enough, experts said at a sports forum in Beijing in May.

The central government provided 930 million yuan ($137.98 million) in subsidies to State-owned stadiums, for these facilities to offer free or subsidized services to the general public, Xinhua reported mid-June.

Some experts say that universities opening their sports facilities to the general public is one way to solve the problem.

Some universities charge the public to use their sports fields. But many neighboring communities who use the sports fields complain about it saying that universities by definition are an open space for public education, so a closed, fee-charging campus goes against the spirit of freedom and inclusiveness.

Supporters of the payment policy, however, say that too many visitors crowd the campuses, disturb order, and deprive students and faculty from using the sports fields. Some others, while supporting the universities’ policy of controlling access to visitors, question whether charging a fee is the best way.

They say if limited access could be given to non-university entrants, then charging a high fee would be unfair to low-income residents. So, should universities charge the public for use of their sports fields?