National Winter Games
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Vice-premier declares open 13th National Winter Games
Vice-Premier Liu Yandong declared open the 13th National Winter Games of China at the Xinjiang Ice Sports Center on Jan 20. China’s 13th National Winter Games, which are being hosted in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region from Jan 20 to Jan 30, will significantly help China promote winter sports in its western regions and achieve the goal of 300 million participants before the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, a top sports official said. Previous National Winter Games, first introduced in 1959, were all hosted by Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces in the northeast, where winter sports have enjoyed huge popularity. “Hosting the 13th National Winter Games in Xinjiang is a strategic move for China’s winter sports, which will be further promoted to western and southern China. It will also help China gain more experience in organizing winter sports events to prepare for the Beijing Winter Olympics,” Liu Peng, China’s sports minister, said at the ceremony. In July, Beijing and co-host Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, won the right to host the 2022 Winter Games. Liu said the National Winter Games is also a good opportunity to spot young talent to participate in the Olympics. More than 1,380 athletes from 54 provincial and municipal teams will compete for 97 gold medals in Xinjiang. Many events, such as figure stating and short-track speed skating, have divisions for young athletes.
First event of National Winter Games delayed by heavy wind
THE first event, ski jumping in the 13th National Winter Games of the People's Republic of China was postponed to Sunday because of heavy wind in Yabuli on January 9. According to the schedule, the men's ski jumping event, with an entry of eleven athletes from three teams, was set at 10 am on Saturday. But the organization committee gave notice to the athletes early in the morning that the event had to be postponed to 12am as the heavy wind might posing theat to athletes when jumping. However, event was cancelled again at 11 o'clock and planned to be held at 8:30 on Sunday. "There are different winds in different places in Yabuli, and we can only check the weather condition accurately right in the event field," the competition manager Cui Yingbo said.
Chinese National Winter Games brings momentum for ski's development in birth place
Dressed in ethnic costumes with a leather arrow bag on his back, Yerbayer Nikaman moved around elegantly in traditional hide-made skis at the Xinjiang Ice Sports Center, mimicing primitive hunting activities in north Xinjiang. The inspiration for Nikaman's perofrmance at the opening ceremony of the 13th Chinese National Winter Games on Wednesday came from a rock painting that depicted the nomadic life of ancient Altay residents. "I'm very proud to be able to show Xinjiang's history of ice sports in front of the whole nation," said Nikaman, a villager who lives in the Altay prefecture. "I hope more people will come to my hometown to experience the charm of traditional skiing." According to archaeological findings, skiing originated from Altay more than 1,000 years ago, and for centuries, skiing was a necessary skill for the people who lived in this area. But the skis were made of wood and hide at that time. "When I was young I often took part in the traditional skiing races," said Behramet Jarkenbek, a Kazak from the Altay prefecture. "What's more, I can make skis with wood and hide by myself." Despite boasting a long history of skiiing, Xinjiang skiers could hardly challenge their fellow competitors from northeast China's Heilongjiang and Jilin at the ongoing National Winter Games. Bahdat Jarkenbek, a 17-year-old high-school student from Altay, is making his first appearance at the National Winter Games. He represented Urumqi in the men's giant slalom competition Thursday at the Silk Road ski resort but failed to make the top eight. "Although I'm from the birth place of skiing, my teammates and I are less competitive than the skiers from Heilongjiang and Jilin," said Bahdat, who started to learn skiing when he was 12. "Traditional skiing is more about recreation, while modern skiiing requires good techniques," he added. In Bahdat's hometown, skiing is getting more popular, especially among the teenagers. But most of the students including Bahdat have access to ski training only in winter vacation. Changes have taken place after Beijing successfully won the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Some schools have begun to conduct PE classes in ski resorts so that more students have regular access to professional instructions. About 5,000 pupils have been offered skiing training this winter at the local General Hill ski resort.
Knowledge Graph
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1 The 12th National Games of the People’s Republic of China (12th National Games) is organised by the General Administration of Sport of China and undertaken by the People’s Government of Liaoning Province.
2 The 13th China National Winter Games, scheduled from Jan. 20-31, 2016, will officially commence with a grand opening ceremony on Jan. 20-31 in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwestern China, according to reports of the Organizing Committee.
3 The theme song for 13th National Winter Games called "Crossing The Ice," features a melody described as graceful and full of positive energy.