Harbin is preparing to bid to host the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, according to a meeting regarding the city’s sports activities.

The meeting, held on March 2, claimed that Harbin has built 80 national fitness centers, and will build swimming pools as part of trial projects to learn how to operate large sports venues.

In 2017, Harbin will hold more than 20 national competitions, including marathon competitions and a motorboat world championship, in order to expand Harbin’s influence and promote the development of related industries.

Harbin launched the Olympic Sports Center projects at the end of last year.

"The building of the Olympic Sports Center is of great importance to the development of Harbin’s infrastructure and sports facilities," said Zhang Fuyi, director of Harbin Sports Bureau.

"It is necessary for Harbin to build more sports venues in the city to host more international sports competitions," he said.

"The Olympic Sports Center project is being carried out as scheduled," he added.

Zhang disclosed that Harbin is now making preparations to host the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games. Harbin will make the bid through both the provincial sports bureau and national sports bureau in the near future.

If it wins the bid, Harbin will host another big winter sports event after the World Winter Universiade in 2009.