Winter sports promotion continues in post-Olympics era

North China's Hebei province — which co-hosted the 2022 Olympic Games with Beijing earlier this year — recently issued a work plan for promoting ice and snow sports in the post-Olympic era, Hebei Daily reported on Tuesday.

The province will give full play to the unique advantages of its Winter Olympics heritage as Zhangjiakou, which held some events during the Games, has several high-level venues, according to the plan.

The plan also said Hebei will continue to increase the number of regular participants in ice and snow sports, and improve athletes' capabilities.

Under the plan, the province will organize no less than 1,000 competitions for ice and snow sports next year. Around 23,000 instructors will be nurtured and 1,000 youth athletes are expected to be trained in 2023. By 2025, the numbers will reach 2,000 activities and 27,000 instructors for 2,000 youth athletes undergoing professional training, as well as members of the public.

The program aims to make a breakthrough in medals at the next Winter Olympics.

Multiple activities to popularize winter sports will also be held at schools, enterprises, institutions, residential communities and villages, in an effort to cultivate a group of people who are proficient in ice and snow events and can participate often, the plan noted.

At schools, classes on winter sports will be set up to teach students and help them learn practical skills.

"Each of them will acquire skills in playing at least one ice or snow sport," the plan said.

The province will also increase the number of related facilities to meet demand by constructing new facilities or upgrading old venues.

This year, at least 14 training centers for ice and snow sports will be built throughout the province, it said.