Over 800 young athletes took part in the 2026 "Run, Teens!," a national youth sports competition to promote physical fitness, mental strength and overall development.

The program, held from January 28 to February 1 in Urumqi, was divided into three sections—exhibitions and demonstrations, educational activities and sport experiences.

The competition featured sports favored by young people, including figure skating, speed skating, and snowboard slalom, to encourage broader participation. Additionally, a variety of fun ice and snow activities were organized to facilitate interaction among youth from different regions and with different skill levels.

"Xinjiang is rich in ice and snow resources and is a vibrant region for youth sports development," Jiang Qingguo, Deputy Director of the Youth Sports Department of the General Administration of Sport, said at a press conference. "Urumqi boasts high-standard sports venues and training bases, having previously hosted major events such as the 13th National Winter Games and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation Cross-Country Skiing China City Tour, demonstrating mature event organization and service capabilities."

The ice and snow sports were to encourage young people to enjoy physical activity, enhance their fitness, and strengthen their willpower, Jiang added. Through exchanges and interaction, participants deepened mutual understanding and friendship, cementing the sense of community for the Chinese nation and a shared national identity.

Moreover, the event promoted the integrated development of culture, sports, tourism and commerce, boosted local industries such as catering, accommodation and transportation, and added luster to the city.

Aerte, Director of the Xinjiang Sports Bureau, said the event showcased Xinjiang's ice and snow facilities and services and boosted winter tourism as well as equipment sales and related consumption, invigorating market confidence, and drawing social capital to the ice and snow industry.

It also whetted local youngsters' enthusiasm for ice and snow sports and encouraged social involvement in youth sports.

Xinjiang is leveraging its ice and snow resources to collaborate with education departments and promote ice and snow sports schools, encouraging other regions with suitable conditions to introduce ice and snow sports in campuses and curricula, and supporting the development of such schools.

In recent years, sports in Urumqi, especially youth sports, have flourished. The city has introduced "snow break" for primary and secondary schools, enabling more children to enjoy ice and snow activities.

Urumqi Vice Mayor Qi Xiaobing said the event followed the principle of staying "green, inclusive, open and clean" and aimed to be "simple, safe, efficient and splendid."

All the venues were existing facilities, with refrigeration, lighting, heating, network and safety systems upgraded. This reduced costs while ensuring safety and enabling more young enthusiasts to participate.

Electronic registration systems, timekeeping and scorekeeping equipment, and digital noticeboards were adopted to minimize paper use. Electronic versions of schedules and results were prioritized, with recycled paper used when printing was necessary. Event procedures were streamlined, and reusable, durable standard equipment was favored.

Catering was kept "moderate and necessary," with scientific menu planning and portion control to encourage clean plates. Eco-friendly packaged water and snacks were prioritized to reduce single-use plastic, and staff were encouraged to use green transportation to cut carbon emissions.

(Print Edition Title: A Running Start)

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