At the press conference on the 25th, Qian Hui, head of the Mass Sports Department of the Jilin Provincial Sports Bureau, introduced that during the “Public Ice and Snow Activities Season,” various cities and prefectures in Jilin will host a series of distinctive winter sports activities such as ice skating, skiing, winter swimming, winter dragon boat racing, snow soccer, spinning tops on ice, sledding, kite flying, and hiking. The goal is to establish this event as a branded activity that integrates Jilin’s regional culture, ice and snow culture, and public fitness.
To ensure tangible benefits for the public, the Jilin Provincial Sports Bureau will allocate funds regularly to localities for the maintenance of ice and snow rinks and the purchase of sports equipment. It will also distribute a certain number of ice skates to upgraded traditional ice sports schools, and mandate that publicly operated outdoor ice and snow rinks open to the public for free on a regular basis. Additionally, outstanding professionals will be assigned to provide regular technical guidance on ice and snow sports for the public.
On January 1, 2013, the first event of Jilin Province’s “Public Ice and Snow Activities Season” — the Provincial Amateur Speed Skating Competition — will take place at Nanhu Park. Over the following three months, sub-events such as the Vasaloppet Cross-Country Ski Festival and the Mass Ski Enthusiasts Challenge will also be held in succession.