Hong Kong looks to future stars

"The ultimate goal is to cultivate more outstanding athletes and attract more skiing enthusiasts to contribute to Hong Kong's winter sports program."

Although eager to attract talent, Siu emphasized that safety is always the top priority in all training sessions.

"The skills required for alpine skiing are quite technical, so we invited former Winter Olympic athletes to coach the youngsters," said Siu. "Their standards and requirements for the children are high."

As alpine skiing is a dangerous sport, insurance is provided for each student, and there are strict requirements for equipment, such as protective gear, helmets and even mouth guards, before engaging in the sport.

"Because of this thorough preparation, there are not many risks involved," he said. "The coaches also insist on safety awareness — they will first teach the children how to protect themselves."

Yue, who has been deeply involved in the exchange and interaction between Heilongjiang and Hong Kong in winter sports for many years, is well aware of Heilongjiang's significant advantages in winter sports.

"Heilongjiang has a long history of winter sports, and is driving the development of the winter sports industry," said Yue. "It is renowned worldwide for its snow quality and snowmaking capabilities.

"The Games are a good opportunity to promote the province's winter sports advantages," he added.

Yue also believes that constant communication is crucial for nurturing athletes.

"I eagerly hope that the exchange between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong in winter sports can be further strengthened, with future training and competitions taking place more frequently in the Chinese mainland," he said. "There are approximately 20,000 skiing enthusiasts in Hong Kong, who actively participate in winter sports tourism."

"Hong Kong has also expended a great effort to cultivate winter sports talent, hoping to elevate winter sports to new heights," he added.

Contact the writers at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn