FIS China City Sprint Beijing 2019

Beijing has just completed the first three-stage FIS Cross-Country Skiing China City Sprint Beijing 2019 event. The competitions took place on  1st March 1st at the iconic arena Bird’s Nest Stadium, on 2nd March at Shougang, also the office headquarters of the Organising Committee of  the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games in the redeveloped industrial area of the city and concluded on 4th March at Yanqing Ba-da-lin International Convention Center, the venue for Alpine Skiing, Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton at the Beijing 2022 Games. A series of youth and recreational activities were organised by the Chinese Ski Association as part of the overall event with the competition courses open to the public for lessons and fun events the following day.

70 ladies and 98 men athletes from 21 countries competed, with the overall series decided on an addition of the positions from each qualification and competition stage, therefore a maximum of 600 point could be achieved. Linn Soemskar from Sweden was the overall winner of the 3-stage ladies competition and Haavard Solaas Taugboel from Norway was the overall men’s winner. A highlight was the 2nd place of 18 year old Chinese Ski Team athlete, Dinigeer YIlamujiang in the Bird's Nest opening stage, a former track and field athlete who has taken up cross-country skiing 18 months ago, and finished 8th in the overall standings.

Mr. Zhongwen Gou, Minister of Sport and President of Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), Mr. Zhongwen Gou; Mr. Zhang Jiangdong, Deputy Mayor of Beijing and Executive Vice-President of the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee (BOCOG); Mr Yang Shu'an, Vice-President of COC and BOCOG;  Mr. Ni Huizhong; President of the Chinese Ski Association and leaders from Beijing Municipalities, the Beijing Capital Group and many others key sports leaders. Secretary General Sarah Lewis represented FIS at the very successful FIS Cross-Country Skiing China City Sprint Beijing 2019 series.