Learning to Skate

November 28, 2021 was a Sunday. At 8 a.m., a skating team from Tsinghua University Primary School began an hour and a half of intensive training in an ice rink beside the Fourth Ring Road in northern Beijing. Guided by a coach, young kids practiced skating in pairs while clutching each other’s hands. The only sound accompanying the coach’s instructions was the rustlings of skates touching the icy surface.

Since Beijing won the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, an increasing number of Chinese teenagers have become interested in ice sports. Some ice sports such as figure skating and ice hockey have been especially popular. According to the Ice and Snow Sports Development Program (2016-2025) issued by the State Council, ice and snow sports would enjoy greater development opportunities on campuses throughout the country. In 2020, the number of specialized primary and middle schools for ice and snow sports was expected to reach 2,000, and approximately 50,000 by 2025.

The Tsinghua University Primary School introduced ice and snow sports education as early as in 1953. Sun Hang, a 10-year old student in the fifth grade at the school, has been studying figure skating for three years. Most of her time is spent at school, the ice rink, or home. Thanks to the campus ice and snow program, the group training class she attends on Sundays is free. Now, 2,200 students at Tsinghua University Primary School are eligible to participate in the free training program.

Among the skaters from the school, Sun Hang is one of the most outstanding. To further hone her skills, after morning school, she rushes to a skating club 20 kilometers away for a one-on-one training class at noon. Every week, the schedule is the same, leaving little time for rest. Her mother does parenting full-time, shuttling her from school to the ice rink every day while managing the rest of her life.

In addition to basic skating skills, figure skaters work on many other skills including gymnastics, music, and ballet. Professional training for everything can cost as much as 200,000 yuan (about US$30,000) annually.    

Statistics show that when per capita GDP of a country reaches US$5,000, consumption demand for sports spikes. And as the number rises to US$8,000, sports become a pillar industry of the national economy. When it surges to US$10,000, the country reaches a golden era for development of ice and snow sports. By 2020, China’s per capita GDP had exceeded US$10,000.

Introduction of more policies will ensure the accelerated development of China’s ice and snow industry. The Olympic cycle has already become a powerful booster for the development of winter sports in China. Analysts estimate that by 2025, 50 million people in China will directly participate in ice and snow sports to the delight of over 300 million winter sports enthusiasts.