National Winter Games starts online torch relay

The launch ceremony for the online torch relay for the 14th National Winter Games was held in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Sept 29 -- with people from across the region invited to become torchbearers.

The torch lighting ceremony aimed to promote winter sports on the internet.

A local resident lighted a virtual torch using VR technology during the launch ceremony, marking the start of the online relay.

The 14th National Winter Games will be held in Inner Mongolia on February 16, 2020, according to the organizers.

They said this is the first large comprehensive sports meet to be held in Inner Mongolia in over 70 years. It is also the largest, most professional and highest-level winter sporting event that will be staged before the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

According to the organizers, the 14th Chinese National Winter Games started an offline torch relay in Ulanhot on May 1 this year. The torch has since been passed to nine stops across the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.