Children compete for ice rope tug-of-war at the launch ceremony. [Photo/Baotou news network]

The group sliding game is on. [Photo/Baotou news network]

To welcome the 14th Winter Games of the People's Republic of China, a launch ceremony of the 200-day countdown of Baotou Station to the games was held at the skating rink of Baotou Sports Center on Aug 1.

The 14th Winter Games are scheduled to take place in Hulunbuir, in Inner Mongolia autonomous region of North China, in February 2024. The event will feature eight major sports, including skating, skiing, curling, ice hockey, and bobsledding.

At the launch ceremony, the group sliding game, the ice rope tug-of-war, and the ice relay competition continued.

The closing ceremony of the "Baotou City Youth Ice and Snow Sports into Campus" activity was also held in the skating rink from Aug 1 to 7.

Chen Jiayi, a junior high school student who participated in the activity, said, "It was so fun skating on the ice. I hope more people will participate in this sport."

In addition, the city will carry out a series of activities such as ice and snow fun games and youth ice and snow winter camps in the next 200 days.