Athletes in Action
On April 1, top cross-country skiers from across the country gathered at the beautiful Phoenix Mountain Ski Resort in Yakeshi to kick off the final leg of the 2012-2013 National Cross-Country Skiing Championship, which spans seven days. Prior to the event, a plaque-unveiling ceremony was held to mark the establishment of the National Biathlon Team Training Base and the National Cross-Country Skiing Team Training Base in Yakeshi.
Liu Xinle, Vice Chairman of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; Yang Xi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Regional Government; Tong Lixin, Deputy Director of the Winter Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; Jiang Shicai, Head of the Competition Department; An Linbin, Head of the Second Skiing Department; Bi Lifu, Director of the Regional Health Department; Shi Mei, Director of the Sports Bureau; Mayor Zhang Liping; Sun Zhen, Director of the Municipal People’s Congress; Hao Guijuan, Vice Mayor; and Daxi Zhabu, Vice Chairman of the Municipal CPPCC, among other leaders, attended the opening ceremony and watched the competitions.
Tong Lixin delivered a speech at the ceremony. He said that Hulunbuir, located at the northernmost part of the country, boasts abundant ice and snow resources, making it an ideal place for winter sports. Skiing has been a traditional strength of Hulunbuir, having nurtured and produced many outstanding athletes for the country over the years, who have achieved excellent results in major domestic and international sporting events. Phoenix Mountain Ski Resort in Yakeshi features a beautiful environment, high-quality snow, and spacious slopes. It has successfully hosted multiple cross-country skiing events and has extensive experience in organizing competitions. This championship is currently the highest-level cross-country skiing competition in China. Its aim is to evaluate the training results of China’s cross-country skiing team in preparation for the Sochi Winter Olympics, improve performance through competition, train the team, and vigorously promote the popularization and development of cross-country skiing.
According to reports, a total of 115 athletes and coaches from seven teams participated in the competition, including the Heilongjiang Provincial Snow Training Center, Changchun City, Jilin City, Baishan City, Harbin City, Hulunbuir City, and the People’s Liberation Army.
It is reported that this competition is organized by the Winter Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, and co-hosted by the Winter Sports Management Center of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Municipal Sports Bureau, and the Yakeshi Municipal Government. Numerous media outlets, including Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, CCTV Sports Channel, China Radio International, Inner Mongolia Daily, Inner Mongolia Radio, and Inner Mongolia Television, are covering the event.