The new ice rink enters the final stage of preparations before the ice is made. [Photo/Baotou news network]

A new real ice indoor ice skating rink is scheduled to open its doors to the public in the Baotou Sports Center – located in Baotou city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – in early July.

Guo Jia, head of the center's marketing department, said the ice skating facility is located on the third floor with a total floor space of 2,230 square meters, with the skating rink itself covering 900 sq m.

Guo said that on completion, it will greatly meet the needs of the general public. "In addition, the ice rink will also provide professional training," Guo added. "At present, the construction of the ice rink is in the final stage for ice making and other related preparatory work is also in the final stage".

The center reportedly built the facility in order to pave the way for the creation of a special ice and snow team in Baotou city and to boost public interest in winter sports in general. It will provide residents with a professional, safe and high-quality skating environment. Speed skating, figure skating and ice hockey coaching will be provided at the ice rink.

At the same time, ice games and other ice entertainment activities will be introduced to raise the profile of winter sports and encourage public participation, as well as to bolster the sports and cultural lives of residents.

"Moving forwards, we will cooperate with the municipal bureau of sports and the municipal bureau of education to carry out ice and snow sports," Guo said. "We will also work with schools to establish campus teams, to boost the popularity of winter sports with young people," Guo added.