On March 2nd, FISCC Skiing China City Sprint Capital Group 2019 kicked off. 200 athletes from 21 countries gathered in Shougang Park to exhibit the game of “speed and passion”, attracting nearly 2,000 audience members and a large media presence. After fierce competition, Haavard Solaas Taugboel of Norway won the men’s competition and Linn Soemskar of Sweden became the overall winner of the women’s competition.

FISCC Skiing China City Sprint, sponsored by the International Ski Federation, and organized by the Winter Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sports of China, China Ski Association, Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, Beijing Yanqing District People's Government, Beijing Olympic Park Management Committee, and Shougang Group, is an important international ice and snow competition in Beijing for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, as well as an important ice and snow event in the central area of Beijing. It is also the calling card of the snow city, an event that tells the story of Beijing to promote the Olympic culture.

According to the person in charge of the Shougang Park Sports Management Center, the course at Shougang Station is 1,573 meters long, including obstacles such as ramps and arch bridges with 10,000 cubic meters of created snow, which is equivalent to the water volume of five swimming pools. As one of the organizers of the event, Shougang Group is fully committed to the various safeguards for the success of the event.

The course in Shougang Station is built around Shougang Show Pool and set in the 100-year industrial heritage group of Shougang. The starting point and the finish line of the competition are located near the office area of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee. It is an excellent city cross-country skiing course for athletes to feel the charm of skiing in the steel city. The white snow and the industrial heritage complement one another. The splashing snow and the once-gusty steel sparks jointly demonstrate and witness the rise of the “new landmark of urban revitalization”.

Shougang's snowmaking work was highly recognized by George Jeepfer, the director of FIS China City Sprint Beijing 2019. He said, "When I first came to Shougang Park, I was deeply shocked because the industrial park is like an extraordinary artistic work. I am particularly excited because it has excellent conditions for hosting the cross-country skiing sprint. Cross-country skiing and industrial elements will collide here. The cross-country skiing event is perfectly integrated with the industrial park, adding a sporty atmosphere and vitality. It is amazing."

As Sarah Lewis, Secretary General of the International Ski Federation, said, Shougang is the headquarters of the Organizing Committee of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. It is a model for the development of the Olympic Games and for sports. Shougang has made an important contribution to the development of Beijing and the integration of sports in society. At the game site, athletes fight hard on the track and the audience cheers along the course. Mr. Qi, who lives in Shijingshan, has fun along the course. He says, “My parents were both Shougang workers. This time, I feel that the change is very big. I can feel great changes from the environment to the humanities. That the Winter Olympics Committee is stationed in Shougang has brought a new look and development to Shougang. Such a high-profile competition is not something that can be undertaken casually. I hope that there will be more and more events here. I believe Shougang will get better and better, and I am very proud of being a Shougang worker."

The competition was held in the central area of Beijing. Many citizens watched and interacted on the spot. The mainstream media from around the world reported and broadcast lively events. CCTV live broadcast and new media coverage reached hundreds of millions of viewers. The WeChat office account of the Shougang News Center also had a live broadcast, and many foreign contestants and staff members also watched through the WeChat official account.

Through the success of this event, Shougang has accumulated new experience in the protection of international ice and snow events, laying a good foundation for the next step of serving the capital and assisting the Beijing Winter Olympics. At the same time, the cross-country skiing event held in the city gives citizens a chance to watch the game at the "home entrance", feel the charm of ice and snow, and play an active role in promoting "300 million people participating in ice and snow sports".