Preparation work for the national speed skating marathon -- Baotou division -- is currently underway in the city in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, with an ice rink measuring 100,000 square meters nearing completion, according to a report in the Baotou Daily.

The marathon, which is part of a series of national ice and snow season activities, is being co-hosted by the Winter Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport and the Sports Bureau of Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

It will run from mid-January to early February on the artificial lake located in Baotou Olympic Park.

The ice rink occupies one-half of the ice surface of the artificial lake. It has a race track with a width of six meters and a length of 500 m.

Activities to be held include the Baotou Speed Skating International Invitational Tournament, the First Baotou Ice Hockey Friendship Tournament, the Baotou Youth Short Track Speed Skating Invitational Tournament and the Baotou Ice and Snow Fun Tournament.

In addition, activities will be staged such as a Baotou ice and snow display, short track speed skating training sessions and exhibitions featuring the ice and snow sports development of Baotou, the biggest city by urban population in Inner Mongolia.