The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, which took place in and around the national capital from Feb 4, ended on Feb 20 and athletes from Harbin – capital of Heilongjiang, China's northernmost province – took home three gold medals and a bronze medal.
 
A total of 176 athletes in the Chinese delegation participated in the Games, of whom 41 from Harbin were said to be the main driving force.
 
Harbin has reportedly mobilized its resources to build first-class athletes, coaches, management teams and undertaken rigorous scientific research – helping to break European and American monopolies in many winter sports.
 
Harbin athletes – including Ren Ziwei, Zhang Yuting, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong – are widely said to be the shining stars of the Chinese national team and provide hope for continuing China's new international prowess in winter sports.
   
Sui Wenjing and Han Cong from Harbin dazzle in a performance on Feb 19. [Photo/my399.com]
 
The Harbin municipal government is said to have long attached great importance to winter sports and has issued a government work proclamation for the city to build itself up as an "international capital of ice and snow sports events".
 
For the people of Harbin, winter sports are now said to have permeated every aspect of their lives.
 
It is felt that by making the ice and snow sports industry in Harbin stronger, it can provide strong support for the development of the wider ice and snow economy – and that it will also promote the competitive level of Harbin's athletes and the extensive development of ice and snow sports.