Winter sports begin Chinese 'spring' (2)

　　[Photo by Tang Xiaobo/ For China Daily]

As the main venue for the 2017 edition of Stars of the Future, China's northeast province of Heilongjiang has always been one of the main forces behind winter sports in China. Stars of the Future attracted 37 delegations from different provinces and regions in China this year.

"I have never seen such heavy snow before. It is freezing here, but it is so much fun," said Zhang Yang, a youth from Wenzhou in southeastern China's southeast Zhejiang province.

Sports officials say they have high hopes for competitions like Stars of the Future.

"Stars of the Future is a great platform to encourage children to take up winter sports," said Liu Fumin, director for youth sports at China's State General Administration of Sports. More winters sports curricula is also set to be introduced into schools in the Chinese capital, with Beijing set to host the 2022 Winter Olympics along with nearby Zhangjiakao.

"Winter sports in schools had their day years ago in Beijing, but by 2022 we will bring it back to schools," said Wang Jun, an official with the Beijing Municipal Education Commission.