Chinese athletes to receive training in Alaska for 2022 Olympics

SAN FRANCISCO -- Some of China's athletes will arrive in the United States northwest state of Alaska soon to take training for the 2022 Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing, Alaska KVTA TV channel reported Monday.

The training program is part of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Alaska Pacific University (APU) and the sports authorities of Heilongjiang province in northeast China during an Alaska trade mission led by Alaska Governor Bill Walker to China last month.

The Chinese side hopes to take advantage of the APU's world class facilities and training program in preparation for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

"The memorandum is the cornerstone for further cooperation between America and China, especially on the snow sports," Yang Meng, director for international exchange at the Heilongjiang sports authority, said after the signing ceremony last month.

An APU spokesperson said the details of the agreement, which involves Nordic skiing, are still being worked out, but Chinese representatives are due to arrive in Anchorage soon, KVTA said.

The TV channel said Alaskan hockey player Zoe Hickel, who plays for China's Kunlun Red Star, got the team to train in Anchorage in January.

"Part of her job is to help get the Chinese skaters ready for the next Olympics," said KTVA.

In January, Walker discussed with Chinese leaders on plans involving Chinese athletes coming to Alaska, and he suggested that some of the hockey training could take place in Anchorage, along with downhill skiing at Alyeska resort, the largest ski area in Alaska, about 44km away from Anchorage, according to the KTVA report.