BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Overseas Chinese are encouraged to take part in China's National Winter Games in order to help build up Chinese winter sports talents for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, according to rules unveiled recently by the country's General Administration of Sport.
The 14th Chinese national winter games will be staged from February 16 to 26, 2020. In order to better connect the national tournament to the Beijing Winter Olympics, which also will introduce top overseas Chinese athletes to the Games, Chinese sports authority is paving the way for overseas Chinese to the domestic games.
The new rules state that, in addition to professional athletes, amateur athletes from colleges and sports clubs who have reached a qualifying standard will be permitted to participate in the Winter Games.
Another notable adjustment is that former Chinese citizens and their descendants, and Chinese citizens residing abroad are also permitted to compete in the Games.
These new regulations are aimed at attracting more people to participate in the Games, as well as cultivating more talents for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
One of China's stated ambitions for Beijing 2022 is for its athletes to compete in all 109 events, while another is to improve performance and results. Enditem
