The Beijing first Winter Games competitive group short track speed skating preliminary competition 10 in the Huaxingshahe ice sports center, the first city winter meeting opens the curtain. According to Su Jun, director of the Youth and Junior Division of the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, at present there are more than 4000 registered athletes in the city's ice and snow events, and a total of 107 youth ice and snow sports teams have been set up in the city. "since the success of Beijing's bid for the Winter Olympic Games, Districts have actively launched youth ice and snow sports, increasing input and support from all aspects. The city's youth ice and snow sports are in an unprecedented period of rapid development. "  

The short track speed skating competition is divided into 4 age groups, male and female, all of which are young people aged 8 to 17. Because of the large number of entries, individual groups had to pass the preliminary round to qualify for the final. "four years ago, there was only one event a year in short track speed skating in Beijing, with only 50 or 60 contestants participating. At present, there are seven or eight competitions at the municipal and district levels each year, and more than 300 people have signed up for the Winter Games this time. " This competition technical representative, city short track speed skating judge committee director Wang Zili sighs with emotion.  

According to statistics, 14 districts in the city have launched short track speed skating, with 808 registered athletes. When the base number is large, you can naturally come out of the top. Although Beijing short track speed skating is not yet visible in the adult national events due to its late start, there are many small players in the U10 / U12 age group who are in the forefront of the country. Haidian girl Wang Ye was selected as the "talented teenager" of the national team. She is the leader of this age group in China and the "hopeful star" of the national team coach Li Yan in preparing for the Beijing Winter Olympics.  

According to the rules of the competition, the final stage of the competition will be held from December 16 to December 23. There will be four major events, including curling, hockey, skating and skiing, with about 1300 participants. Among them, the short track speed skating final will be held from 13 to 25 this month, is expected to have 223 participants in the competition. In addition, figure skating and skiing will also be qualified. In addition, the total number of participants in the first Winter Games reached 1556.  

Although the city-level games, played by teenagers, but the city's winter event organization standards are not low. In the short track speed skating qualifiers, the organizers invited the best referees in the country, many of whom had been the main referees in the National Winter Games and the National Championships. The timing equipment of the competition is also provided by the China Skating Association free of charge, and can be regarded as the top level in China. The next few events will be organized in the same size as short track speed skating.  

In fact, Beijing folk has always been involved in ice and snow sports tradition, but the district sports bureau as a unit to organize teams, the city-level large-scale comprehensive games is the first time. According to Wang Zili, with the city winter meeting as the pushing hand, the importance and enthusiasm of young people's ice and snow sports have been further enhanced.  

(source: Beijing Daily)