China's first Olympic skiing champion Han Xiaopeng will compete in the 2008/09 FIS freestyle skiing World Cup to be held from Dec. 14 to 21 in Changchun, the capital city of northeast China's Jilin Province, an official said Tuesday.

Zhao Xiaolu, secretary-general of the Chinese Skiing Association, the World Cup event will be important for the Chinese athletes to prepare for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

More than 100 athletes and coaches from 12 countries and regions will participate in this event.

(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2008)