With the 6th Asian Winter Games a month away, Changchun, the capital city of Jilin Province which will host the eight-day games next year, has already won approval from winter sports world of Asia.

Changchun has proved itself one of the best venues for winter sports competitions after it had successfully hosted a series of major events. Now with the 6th Asian Winter Games to be held from January 28 to February 4 of 2007, the city is striving to consolidate its position as the paradise of winter sports in China.

Wang Yitao, president of China Skiing Association, gave his credit to the city over its experiences on organizing winter sports competitions.

"Changchun has established its status as an important city of Chinese winter sports with its efforts in the past 20 years," Wang said.

The inaugural Vasaloppet China international cross-country ski race turned out to be a success and now the race has become an indispensable winter sports event in China.

Freestyle skiing World Cup and Volvo cross-country skiing race held in Changchun gave the city further experiences in hosting winter sports events.

"In recent years we have hosted a number of major international winter sports events. These events led to the development of winter sports in China and also help accelerate the construction of infrastructure for the winter sports," said An Li, the vice executive president and secretary general of the 6th Asian Winter Games organizing committee.

As the latest example, Changchun hosted in March 2005 the final leg of the 2006 FIS cross-country short course skiing World Cup with the participation of all the Winter Olympic Games medalists in Turin.

"So far, Changchun has built two large first-class ski courses, Lianhuashan and Jingyuetan National Forest Park. All of these ski fields are capable of hosting major international events," said vice president of China Ski Association Zhao Xiaolu.

In January 2006, Fok Tsun-ting, vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), visited Changchun and gave thumb up for the preparation work the city had done for the Winter Asiad.

"With the enthusiasm and efforts of the organizing committee and the excellent facilities, I believe the 6th Winter Asian Gamescan become one of the best Winter Asian Games in history."

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2006)