Beijing will host three major international winter sports events from late November to early December, the ISU Speed Skating World Cup, the FIS Big Air Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing World Cup and the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup, are the events that will be held shortly, officials said at a press conference on Tuesday.
This will undoubtedly encourage tourism in the Asian giant, and more visits are expected in the most visited places in the country, such as the Great Wall of China – one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, since 2007.
Speed Skating
Olympic champion Fan Kexin will make her comeback in the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup (Beijing stage), which will significantly increase the strength and competitiveness of the team.
“With time, the dynamics of short track speed skating has changed considerably and many new talents have emerged from various countries,” Fan told reporters. “We need to adapt and rise to the challenges of competing against these strong opponents.”
After returning from the World Cup, the Chinese team has been training in a very positive atmosphere, with everyone actively adjusting their mentality and training intensity, Fan said.
“The 2024-25 season is the last full season before the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, and national teams from all winter sports disciplines are doing everything they can to prepare,” said Xing Shuo, deputy director of the Winter Sports Administration Center of the General Sports Administration of China.
Xing revealed that this season, China will host 28 international winter sports competitions, including eight ice tests and 20 snow tests, 16 of which are classified as international level A events. Half of these competitions will be held at the headquarters of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
The FIS Big Air Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing World Cup will be held at the Big Air Shougang, and the Chinese team will feature five snowboarders, including Olympic champion Su Yiming, and eight freestyle skiers. He will once again aspire to gold, while many younger athletes, between 16 and 18 years old, will make their debut in the World Cup.
The Big Air World Cup, organized by the International Ski Federation, is an international level A competition and a qualifying event for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, whose results contribute to the world ranking of athletes. About 200 athletes are expected to compete for a place at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“We are committed to implementing the spirit of managing and leveraging the legacy of the Beijing Winter Olympics,” said Guo Jun, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Sports Office.
“By hosting world-class winter sports events, our goal is to drive the sustainable development of winter sports and the ice and snow industry,” Guo added.
Guo highlighted that, as the only “dual Olympic city” in the world, Beijing has state-of-the-art sports facilities, an experienced event management team and extensive experience in event operations. The city is dedicated to creating a fair, comfortable and safe environment for all participants.
Since the 2022 Winter Olympics, Beijing has fully used its Olympic venues, such as the National Oval Speed Skating and the Big Air Shougang, opening them to the public.
These iconic places have become popular places for winter tourism, attracting numerous visitors to ice skating, skiing and other activities. This integration of professional sports with public life and tourism highlights the growing accessibility of winter sports.