More than 10,000 athletes are competing in the 10th annual event. Photos Provided to China Daily

Clockwise from top: Participants in the Miss Ice and Snow Angel beauty contest held during the gala. Massive snow sculpture. Ding Luyang and Liu Xiao / China Daily Nordic participants are at home in the cold weather of Northeast China. Ding Luyang and Liu Xiao / China Daily

Changchun's cross-country ski gala boosts profile, tourism and amenities

The Jingyuetan Vasaloppet International Ski Festival underway in Changchun marks the 10th anniversary since the Swedish cross-country event was first introduced to China.

The ice and snow gala in the capital city of Northeast China's Jilin province from Dec 1 to Feb 6 also includes the year's top celebrations - Christmas, New Year and the Spring Festival.

Organizers have invited about 1,000 athletes and winter sports enthusiasts from over 30 countries and regions to participate, while more than 10,000 college students are expected to compete.

In addition to seven professional competitions, 16 other activities are planned including a beauty contest, a painting and calligraphy show and the torch relay for China's 12th Winter Games.

The event centers around a European-style snow park built by the local government to attract tourists. Visitors can join in cross-country skiing, ice golf, ice bowling, ice soccer and snow and ice slides.

A stunning attraction at the festival is a massive snow sculpture of the goddess Jingyue that stands 23 meters tall. It was made of 20,000 cubic meters of snow.

The Jingyue Economic Development Zone, home to the festival, is known for its natural beauty and rich ecology. It servers not only as an economic driving engine of the city, but also as a major tourism destination and a center of modern service and cultural industries.

Although the area is also known for a number of other major events such as an agricultural expo, cross-country running competition and mountain bicycle race, the most famous is the Vasaloppet Ski Festival.

Jilin's snowfall and long winter create supreme conditions for skiing. Many of Asia's top ski resorts are within Chanchun's boundaries. Together they offer nearly 100 ski trails.

Ski legend

The Vasaloppet began 90 years ago in Sweden as a long distance - 90 kilometer - cross-country ski race. It is the oldest, one of the longest, and most popular of any cross-country ski race in the world.

The event commemorates Swedish king and national hero Gustav Vasa, who according to legend, escaped from the troops of Christian II, king of Denmark, in 1521, skiing all the way back to his supporters to again fight the Danish ruler.

The first Vasaloppet Ski Festival was held in the Swedish city of Moran and is now a highlight of the year, attracting more than 40,000 skiers from across the world.

In 2001, the Swedish Nordic Ways International Development Corp, which specializes in organizing large international sports events, found that the terrain and environment of Jingyuetan was ideal for a cross-country ski race.

Nordic Ways then suggested bringing the Vasaloppet to Changchun. After meeting representatives of the company in Sweden, the city government agreed it would publicize local characteristics and raise the profile of the city.

The first Vasaloppet in Changchun was held in 2003 as China became the fourth country in the world to host the winter event following Sweden, the United States and Japan.

Skiing center

Building on the experience from the event, Changchun held a number of other international ski competitions in conjunction with the International Ski Federation.

Jingyuetan has also become a training site for the Chinese cross-country ski team.

The organizer of the Vasaloppet Ski Festival has for many years sponsored the Chinese cross-country skiing team. It invited the former coach of the Swedish national team to train China's team and introduced them to the most advanced concepts.

The Chinese team also trains in Europe, where the athletes have the opportunity for further development.

All of China's first and second-tier cross-country skiing athletes have taken part in the Jingyuetan Vasaloppet Ski Festival in the past 10 years, competing with top rivals from around the world that included a number of Olympic gold medalists.

Local authorities are also promoting skiing among ordinary people and organizing cross-country skiing classes in universities. More than 500,000 college students were involved.

Awareness, growth

Ten years ago, few Chinese people knew about cross-country skiing, but awareness is much higher today as a direct result of the Jingyuetan festival.

Many Changchun locals have become good skiers and the world in turn learned about the winter wonderland in the Northeast China called Jingyue.

The festival, a combination of both Nordic and Chinese cultures, not only attracted top athletes to show their skills, but also drew business opportunities to the city with dozens of commercial fairs, tourism activities and cultural exchange programs.

More than 100 billion yuan ($15.8 billion) investment has been attracted to Changchun over the past decade, due to the winter gala.

As a comprehensive international winter event combining sports, business, tourism and creative activities, the festival has become "one of the best platforms to boost the economy and promote the city's image", said Guan Shusen, director of the administrative committee of the Jingyue Economic Development Zone.

"Taking part in it, everyone can be the champion," said Guan.

The Vasaloppet also laid the groundwork for other international sports events in the city including the Vasa cross-country running race held in summer.

Platinum industry

Local Changchun media term the Vasaloppet a "platinum industry" because it has greatly boosted a number of industries in the service sector including restaurants, hotels, shopping and entertainment.

Together they contributed 43 billion yuan to the city's GDP in 2011, up from 8.3 billion yuan in 2003 when the festival lasted only two days and had some 750 participants.

Related business contracts worth more than 100 billion yuan were signed by 2011.

For five consecutive years, the European Radio and TV Alliance made programs to promote the festival along with the city.

"The festival is a perfect example of combining sports with tourism," said Guan. "While we promote the sport, we are also advocating a new lifestyle combining health, leisure, fashion and eco-friendliness."

(China Daily 01/01/2012 page10)