BEIJING: The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics have led more people in China to develop a passion for ice and snow sports, including youth in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
In the region’s Beitun city, where the snow season lasts for more than five months, ice sports such as speed skating and cross-country skiing have become regular activities in primary and secondary school physical education classes.
Currently, 56 primary and secondary schools and seven universities in Xinjiang are offering ice and snow sports courses, in which approximately 46,000 students participate. More than 90 schools in the region have been recognized as “National Youth Ice and Snow Sports Specialized Schools”, according to the Xinjiang government.
Last year, the 181st Regiment Middle School in Beitun became one of these schools. The school was established by the 10th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a special administrative body that governs Beitun.
Principal Wang Yongji said that all students have at least two ice and snow sports classes per week. The school has eight teachers who offer professional speed skating and cross-country skiing training to more than 350 students each year.
“During the winter, when the temperature drops to — 25 or — 30 C, it’s very tiring and difficult for the students to train. But they are passionate about ice sports,” said Han Yaru, a physical education teacher at the middle school and a speed skating coach.
“When they take breaks, their feet are frozen, so we warm them up by placing their feet under our armpits, and then they go back to training when they can feel their feet again. Seeing their perseverance, I am motivated to teach them well.”
When Han was younger, the students in Beitun city had a tradition of going ice skating in winter. –The Daily Mail-China Daily News exchange item
