Winter sports getting more and more popular in China (5)

Two players compete during the 2016-2017 Shanghai Junior Ice Hockey League in Shanghai, east China, March 12, 2017. With the success of Beijing and Zhangjiakou bidding for 2022 Winter Olympic Games, winter sports is getting more and more popular in China, including Shanghai. Shanghai has 11 ice rinks and over 800 registered athletes of winter sports. Combining sports with education is the feature of Shanghai's winter sports development. In 2012, the first curling venue was built in the sports center of Songjiang University Town in Shanghai. With the cooperation of several Shanghai's government departments, 8 schools in Songjiang opened curling class. There were 5 ice hockey teams and 18 skating teams participating in the 2016 Winter Sports Games of Shanghai Elementary and Middle Schools. At present, about 4000 people join clubs to keep on exercising on winter sports. In recent years, Shanghai hosted several top international matches of short track skating and figure skating, leading more and more local children liking and enjoying the sports. In the 13th National Winter Games of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai sent a delegation comprised of students to participate in ice hockey and curling events. Winter sports is still under developed at present, but Shanghai sports bureau is making a new way to cultivate athletes by clubs and schools instead of by government systems. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)