The 2008 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships opened on February 26 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The championships will last to March 2. A total of 207 competitors from 50 ISU members registered to participate in the championships.

China has sent nine athletes to the event.

The oldest competitor is the 21-year-old Yannick Kocon from Italy, and the youngest is the 13-year-old Bela Papp from Finland.

The ISU will award a total prize of US$200,000 at the junior worlds to the competitors placed first to 12th.

The champions of the men and women will get US$10,000 each, and the champions of the pairs and dance will get US$15,000 per couple.

The junior worlds was inaugurated in 1978. Sofia had hosted the event in 2001.

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2008)