Chinese delegation commences Lausanne trip for Winter Youth Olympics

LAUSANNE - Part of the Chinese delegation arrived in Lausanne on Tuesday morning for the third Winter Youth Olympic Games that will kick off on Thursday.

After landing at the Geneva International Airport, the Chinese curling team, led by the Deputy Chef de Mission Yang Dong, took the 50-minute train to Lausanne.

The members, including coach Perry Marshall and four athletes, are also the first batch of Chinese athletes to reside in the Youth Olympic Village in the western part of Lausanne.

China has dispatched 53 athletes to the Lausanne Winter Youth Olympic Games from January 9 to 22, more than doubling its representation at the previous two editions.

The delegation hopes to gain valuable experience in international competitions and sees the Games in Lausanne as a good test for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games on home soil where they plan full participation in the 109 events on offer.

A source said that the Chinese delegation will have different schedules of arrivals in Lausanne over the coming weeks.

"It's my first time here in Lausanne. I feel quite excited now," said Liu Tong.

Walking towards the Village following an accreditation procedure, Chinese women's curler Pei Junhang took a picture of the athletes' residential building with her cellphone.

"I've never stayed in such a big athletes village before. I'm very much looking forward to life here," Pei pointed out.

Their American counterparts expressed a similar feeling.

"A lot of emotions. Very nervous but very excited for the adventure that we'll embark on here," said Charlie Thompson of the U.S. curling team.

"I certainly hope we will do well, but I expect that we will enjoy the entire process no matter of the results," he added.