The winter competition of the 2019 Special Olympics China kicked off in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China’s Liaoning province on Dec 15, according to the organizers.

The Special Olympics China is a national sports competition for children and adults suffering from neurological and mental conditions.

It serves as a platform for participants to show skills and share experiences.

This year’s ongoing winter event were sponsored by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation and the organization committee of the Special Olympics China. It is being co-organized by the Heilongjiang Provincial Disabled Persons’ Federation, Heilongjiang Sports Bureau and the Heilongjiang Education Department.

It attracted the participation of more than 500 players and coaches from Tianjin, Shanghai, Hebei, Shanxi, Zhejiang, Hubei, Sichuan and Heilongjiang, as well as from Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

There were five events in the winter event, involving speed skating, figure skating, dry ice hockey, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Of these, the speed skating, figure skating and dry ice hockey matches took place in Harbin on Dec 12-17. The other two matches were held in Qiqihar in Heilongjiang on Dec 15-20.

Heilongjiang was chosen as the host site of winter event due to its advantages in developing winter sports.

In 2006, Heilongjiang hosted the 4th Special Olympics China. And in 2010, it successfully hosted the winter event of the Special Olympics China.
  Athletes compete in speed skating at the 2019 Special Olympics China in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China’s Liaoning province, on Dec 15. [Photo/chinanews.com]