A vocational college for winter sports was set up in Harbin, Heilongjiang province on Oct 25. It is the first of its kind in China.

The college features the vocational education for six majors, including athletic training(ice-snow sports), sports service and management, rehabilitation treatment and technology, nursing (exercise rehabilitation), automobile repair and maintenance (sports equipment operation and maintenance), and computer application technology (security technology application).

The majors were designed to meet the demands of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. A total of 479 students started their study in the college this month.

Although all students are freshmen, some will have an opportunity to participate in the 2022 Games, according to Yang Yongsheng, a representative in charge of the college’s preparatory committee.

Gao Zhidan, assistant director of the General Administration of Sport, attended the inauguration ceremony.