The freestyle skiing competition of 2005 World Cup is scheduled to be held from December 16 to 18 in Changchun City, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province.

"We are busy preparing for the upcoming competition," deputy director of the Municipal Sports Bureau Zhao Xiaolu told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday.

Zhao said that the international event, sponsored by the International Ski Federation (FIS), Chinese Ski Association (CSA) and Changchun municipal government, will attract world top ski players to gain credits for 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino.

The construction of the competition field is still underway and the equipment for the event, such as snow-making machines and rescue motorcycles, have been transported to the city's Lianhua Mountain Ski Resort, where the ski competition will be held.

Zhao said 10 staff members of FIS will attend the ski competition as referees and technical representatives during the event.

Changchun has become an important place in China for hosting international ice and snow competitive events in recent years. The sixth Winter Asian Games is scheduled to be held in 2007 in the city.

(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2005)