SHIJIAZHUANG, Dec. 25 -- With the 2022 Olympics just around the corner, winter sports are becoming more popular among public schools in Tangshan, Hebei, with schools adding programs such as curling and hockey, along with building varsity sports teams.
Jianggezhuang Middle School is one of these schools. Located in the outskirts of Laoting, it has more than 1,000 students. In October, it built a 230-square-meter ice stadium for curling. The school's principal, Yongguo Fu, claimed that building the stadium was only the beginning. He wanted students from the school to benefit from having a curling program.
"Students used to stay inside all the time in the winter," Duo Jin, head coach of the school's curling team said as he demonstrated how to deliver a stone, "but it's not the case anymore. They are very excited to check out the new stadium."
Yanjing Elementary in Tangshan city is another example. It's among the first schools that developed winter sports programs, and now it has a hockey and a speed skating team. In a recent provincial winter sports meet, Yanjing Elementary's hockey team made second place.
Up till now, eight schools in this city offer such programs.
Besides constructing new stadiums and developing athletic programs, schools in Tangshan are providing their teachers with lessons to become licensed winter sports instructors. There has also been an increase in the number of winter sports meets. More than 2,100 students are now able to participate in curling matches, ice skating, hockey games and other sports.
On July 31st, 2017, China was awarded the 24th Winter Olympics. A total of 102 events in 15 sports will take place in Beijing, Yanqing, and Zhangjiakou from Feb 4th to 20th in 2022.