Influencers talk China-Finland winter sports cooperation

Industry influencers praised the achievements of the 2019 China-Finland Year of Winter Sports at a panel discussion held in Suomutunturi, Finland over the weekend.

The meeting was held one day before the Alpine Ski Orienteering Open in Suomu, a race organized by Chinese winter sports associations and enthusiasts marking the ending of the year-long event.

Kati Malkki-Karttunen, coordinator of China-Finland Winter Sports at Finland's Ministry of Education and Culture, said the cooperation has been able to "strengthen the friendship between two countries and two peoples".

"The thematic year is not only supported by the highest level of governments," she explained. "Cities, sports associations and ski resorts also contribute to the Year. It goes to all levels and really shows the variety of cooperation that we can do."

More than 60 events focusing on training and coaching cooperation, sustainable development and accountability, tourism, elite sports and business cooperation have been held through the past year, according to a Finnish government press release.

"Finland wants to show and give our supports to China's goal to attract 300 million new winter sports enthusiasts," Karttunen added. "And we also want to strengthen our cooperation on the road towards 2022 Beijing Winter Olympicsand Paralympic Games."

During the bidding process for the 2022 Winter Olympics, China set a plan to encourage 300 million people to get involved in winter sports. According to official statistics, by October 2018 more than 800 ski facilities have been built and about 50 million Chinese citizens have skied at least once, influencing about 150 million to participate in winter sports directly or indirectly.

Jiang Yihai, vice chairman of Heilongjiang Ski Association in China, said Finland has a long history of winter sports and world-class winter sports experience, which could provide valuable lessons for China's winter sports development.

"Sino-Finnish snow and ice sports cooperation not only helps to improve the professional level of these sports in China," he said. "It is also very meaningful for popularizing these sports among the general public."

The most rapid development was seen in collaboration between athletes and coaches. About 400 Chinese athletes attended training and tournaments in Finland during the 2018-19 season. And China has hired eight Finnish coaches for national snowboard, Nordic combined, curling and ski jumping teams.

"China-Finland Year of Winter Sports 2019 has been a stepping stone for the future, filled with many events and enriched by our cooperation," Finland's Minister of Science and Culture Hanna Kosonen said at the closing ceremony of the cooperation last month.

"Although this year is coming to an end, cooperation in the field of winter sports will continue towards the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games and over the next Olympiad," Kosonen added.