President Xi shows his long passion for winter sports

On February 4th, the curtain will be raised for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, igniting the passion of hundreds of millions of ice-and-snow sports fans worldwide. Among them is a particular enthusiast -- Chinese President Xi Jinping. With decades-long love for winter sports, Xi has championed the country's hosting of the upcoming Games.

Eight years ago, while attending the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, Xi talked with the Chinese sports delegation. He asked questions like "How much does the wind speed and snow quality affect your landing?" The athletes were deeply impressed by Xi's subject knowledge, commenting, "You are so professional!"

Xi has a particular passion for ice hockey, speed skating and figure skating. Growing up in the northern part of China, he developed an enthusiasm for skating at a young age.

During his visit to Beijing's Wukesong sports center in February 2017, Xi shared with the spirited young ice hockey athletes his experience of first stepping onto the ice in a pair of skates. "Back then, I was a primary school pupil, the same age as you, and it was on the frozen lake of Shichahai in central Beijing. I simply started skating, despite the fact that my skating boots were the wrong size."

At the sports center, Xi took the hands of a then 9-year-old player, leaned down and playfully shouldered him, adopting the "confrontation" posture often seen in ice-hockey games. "You need to grow stronger, young chap," Xi told the boy.

"The future of China's ice-and-snow sports depends on your generation," Xi encouraged the young players.

The president's enthusiasm for winter sports has gone beyond personal, spawning a blueprint for the nation.

In China, winter sports mainly prevail in