Some sports events have started before the official opening of China's 14th National Winter Games in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The 14th National Winter Games, which is set to officially open on February 17, will be the largest ever of its kind, with the participation of more than 3,700 athletes, according to the organizers.
Athletes compete in the sport shooting segment of the biathlon during China's National Biathlon Championships in Liangcheng County, China, January 4, 2024. /Inner Mongolia News
In Liangcheng County, near Ulan Chab City, 148 athletes competed from January 4 to 10 in the 2023-2024 China's National Biathlon Championships, which also served as the qualifier for the 14th National Winter Games.
The biathlon championships featured 11 events:
Women: 7.5km sprint, 10km pursuit, 15km individual race, 12.5 mass start race and 4X6km relay
Men: 10km sprint, 12.5km pursuit, 20km individual race, 15km mass start race and 4X7.5km relay
Mixed relay: 4X6km
Li Yang of Team Inner Mongolia competes in the juniors' curling event during China's 14th National Winter Games in Hulun Buir City, China, January 9, 2024. /Xinhua
The junior group curling event at the 14th National Winter Games kicked off in Hulun Buir City on Tuesday.
Twelve teams will fight for three gold medals in the men's, women's and mixed doubles categories across nine days in the city's ice sports training center.
Eight teams played two rounds on the first day of the mixed doubles competition, which adopted a single round-robin format.
(With input from Xinhua)