The 6th Asian Winter Games will be held in Changchun, China, from January 28 to February 4, 2007.

A total of 816 athletes from 26 countries and regions of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have officially registered for the Games making it the biggest ever Winter sports event on the continent.

Nine additional countries and regions will compete in the upcoming Games, compared to the last edition in Japan.

China will send the largest delegation of 160 athletes, including 79 female and 81 male.

The Chinese delegation will compete in skiing events, short track speed skating, figure skating, speed skating, ice hockey and curling.

Among the participants are world champions Han Xiaopeng, Wang Manli, Wang Meng, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo.

South Korea, Japan and Kazakhstan will also send strong lineups to the Winter Asiad. South Korea will send a 151-member delegation to Changchun while Japan and Kazakhstan have called up 137-member and 134-member delegations to the Games respectively.

Patronized by the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA), Asian Winter Games is the largest winter sports gathering at the highest level and with the most extensive influence. As the extension of the Olympic Spirit in Asia, it will serve as a bridge for the Asian peoples from various countries and regions to promote the friendship and understanding through sports exchanges.
　　
Asian Winter Games is a quadrennial sporting event. The first 2 editions were held in Sapporo, Japan, the 3rd in Harbin, China, the 4th in Kangwon, Korea, and the 5th in Aomori, Japan. On October 3rd, 2002, Changchun was awarded the right to host the 6th Asian Winter Games in 2007.

At the last Winter Asian Games in Aomori, Japan, in 2003, Chinese athletes won a total of nine gold medals, 11 silvers and 13 bronzes. Japan topped the medal table with 24 gold, 23 silver and 20 bronze, while South Korea went home with 10 gold, 8 silver and 10 bronze.

Official website: http://en.changchun2007.org/zh_cn/

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily January 25, 2007)