Norway helping China shine on snowy course

Scandinavian experts assist in building x-country skiing culture

The kingdom of cross-country skiing is lending a helping hand to China as the host of the 2022 Winter Olympics aspires to join the world's best on snow.

Even without snow, the action of winter sports breathed thrills into Beijing's Olympic Park on Monday morning for a roller ski race witnessed by Norway's King Harald V and Queen Sonja, accompanied by Gou Zhongwen, minister of the General Administration of Sport of China.