An opening ceremony for a winter sports camp (skiing winter camp) takes place in Jiulong International Ski Resort in Shanxi province on Jan 26. [Photo/people.com.cn]

The Shanxi division of the 2018-2019 National Youth Sports Camp (Skiing Winter Camp) and the second Shanxi Youth Ice and Snow Carnival opened in Jiulong International Ski Resort in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, Jan 26.

Hosted by the Shanxi Sport Bureau, Shanxi Provincial Education Department, and Shanxi Committee of China Communist Youth League, the event aims to further promote winter sports among young people in the province and to serve as a warm up for the upcoming second Youth Games of China and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

The five-day event includes sports competitions like five-a-side football, culture events themed around the Winter Olympics such as quizzes about the games, and youth talent shows, as well as fun recreational activities including skibobbing and ice slides.

It’s a part of the annual winter sports camp series launched in Shanxi. Other winter sports camps focusing on skating, basketball, table tennis, badminton and taekwondo are also in full swing in the cities of Xinzhou and Shuozhou, located in the northern part of the province where the average monthly temperature in winter is -22 to -12 Celsius and snow is ample, thus suitable for carrying out winter sports.