Big Int'l ski meet to open in Changchun
2016-07-04
The city of Changchun, capital of Jilin province, has announced that it will be holding its first-ever Worldloppet Ski Federation, a sort of skiing Davos Forum, next year, after having won the bid at this year’s annual meeting in Finland, on June 28.
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China wins the bid for 2017 Worldloppet host, in Finland, on June 28. [Photo/xwh.cn] |
The city is expecting 20 member countries to show up for a meeting at its Jingyue National High and New Technology Development Zone to map out the skiing events for next year. Juha Viljamaa, newly-elected head Worldloppet Ski Federation, said that China deserves to be host and that it can increase relations among member countries and help promote cross-country long-distance skiing in China, especially in its Northeast, and that Changchun has already played host to the long-distance race, Vasaloppet, over the past 14 years, bringing tens of thousands of skiers every year.
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Member country representatives voting on the 2017 annual meeting. [Photo/xwh.cn] |
One Sweden Worldloppet representative who said he hopes to better understand Changchun's Vasaloppet and its skiing in general added that he is looking forward to going to Changchun next year.
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Changchun, capital of Jilin province, attracting global attention with its International Vasaloppet Ski Race, with recognition from the world’s largest long-distance ski organization, Worldloppet. [Photo/xwh.cn] |
?Member countries are also expected to discuss the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics at the 2017 meeting of Worldloppet, the largest, highest-level skiing organization, which was established in Sweden in 1978, with 20 members, including Sweden, Norway, the US, Canada, Russia, Australia, Argentina and China.
