A cross-country skiing team made up of 20 professional skiers from Heilongjiang and Guangdong provinces set off for Norway on Dec 7. The team is due to take part in a 90-day training course in the Nordic country.

The training course is being held as part of preparations for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. In previous competitions Chinese competitors have performed well in skating competitions, but lack the appropriate experience to win international skiing contests.

The team heading to Norway will learn new practical skills, theory and training methods, with the aim of improving their performance at international competitions.

The team will be trained by Li Xiaoming, a coach to China’s national team and a coach from Norway.

A farewell ceremony for the team took place in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on Dec 5.

A farewell ceremony for a cross-country skiing team made up of 20 professional skiers from Heilongjiang and Guangdong provinces takes place in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Dec 5. [Photo/chinanews.com]

Skiers attend a farewell ceremony in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, Dec 5. [Photo/chinanews.com]

One of the skiers delivers a speech during a farewell ceremony in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, Dec 5. [Photo/chinanews.com]