XINING, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- The 2019 Qinghai International Curling Elite tournament kicked off on Thursday at Duoba National Highland Physical Training Base in northwest China's Qinghai province, featuring 16 top teams from 10 countries competing on ice from December 5 to 10.
First held in 2016, the competition is drawn this year into the global team ranking points system of the World Curling Federation and has become one of the world's top curling tournaments.
According to Hong Jiang, deputy director of the winter sports administrative center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the event has become a bonding platform for fans from China and the whole world.
The province is well placed for ice sports which are beloved by the people, said Xie Gungjun, deputy director of the Sports Bureau of Qinghai province, adding that the local government will seize the opportunity presented by 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to unleash the enormous potential of ice sports.
"It is a wonderful way to promote curling in China, especially in this interesting region," said Keith Wendorf, chief umpire of the event.
The competition is expected to promote winter sports in China as the country steps into winter sports promotion fast lane. According to a development plan, China is expected to see more than 300 million people involved in winter sports by 2022.
