World skating governing body has set to start the 2007-2008 season of short track speed skating in China, holding the first World Cup in northeast China city Harbin on Oct. 19-21.

The tournament, to be followed by other five World Cup races in four months till February, 2008, is among the top series organized by the International Skating Union.

It features 82 men and 69 women skaters alongside 62 team officials and over 50 referees from 22 countries and regions, including world speed skating powerhouses like South Korea and Canada.

Also big names, like Turin Winter Olympic champions Ahn Hyun-soo from South Korea, Jin Sunyu and Wang Meng of the hosts China, have been attracted to the event.

Led by the women's 500m short track reigning Olympic champion Wang, China will have 6 men and 6 women skaters to participate.

It's the 11th year for China to hold a short track World Cup event and the second time for Harbin.

Other five stops of the new season's short track series will be held in Japan's Kobe, Heerenveen of the Netherlands, Torino of Italy, Quebec City of Canada and Salt Lake City of the United States.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2007)