The International Ski Federation (FIS) and the Chinese Ski Association (CSA) have signed an agreement with IDG Sports to further grow the Get into Snow Sports (GISS)-China grassroots programme.
Launched at the beginning of this season, the GISS-China programme is designed to contribute to the official government target of having 300 million winter sport participants in China. Managed through FIS Academy, GISS-China engages snow sports beginners through interactive ski and snowboard courses tailored for the Chinese market and delivered by specially trained GISS-China ski instructors. The courses are certified by FIS and the World Academy of Sport.
Announced at the FIS Cross-Country Skiing China City Sprint Beijing 2019 race series, IDG Sports will join GISS-China to contribute to its development in China as the commercial and operating partner and investor, using its Chinese winter sports activities and connections to deliver the programme to businesses, educational organisations and individual snow sports beginners.
“We are thrilled to welcome IDG Sports onboard as the national partner of GISS-China. With their standing, experience and network in China of key snow sports industry and influencers including the resorts, regional leaders throughout the country, as well as the equipment sector, they are very well positioned to develop “Get Into Snow Sports” in China,” said FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis in Beijing.
“Given the resources and experiences in the sports industry we have accumulated in China for the past few decades and our expertise in investment, market research, media and expos as well as event management, IDG Sports will work hand in hand with FIS and CSA to develop the GISS-China programme to let Chinese people fall in love with skiing, and hence to further promote the development of winter sports in China,” noted Li Zhang, Vice President, IDG China.
“CSA would like to promote the GISS-China programme together with FIS and IDG Sports to attract more people to snow sports and equip them with better skiing skills thanks to FIS's well-established training expertise and promotional models. The programme is instrumental in increasing the number of first-time skiers in China, contributing towards the official government target of "Encouraging 300 Million People to Participate in Winter Sports,” said Hong Ping, Vice President at the Chinese Ski Association.
Following the successful concept test of GISS-China during the current season implemented at ski resorts in Beijing and Hebei province, the programme has demonstrated the interest in a tailored course to introduce Chinese beginners to snow sports adapted to the age-group of the participants. In cooperation with IDG Sports, GISS-China will have a strong domestic partner to roll out the programme nationally building towards the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.