A press conference for the Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025  is held in Harbin on January 7. Photo: Courtesy of the organizers of Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025

The main creative team for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Harbin Asian Winter Games was officially announced at a press conference in Harbin on Tuesday, which also marked the start of a 30-day countdown to the Games.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for February 7 at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Centre and the closing ceremony for February 14 at the same venue in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

Sha Xiaolan will serve as the chief director of the ceremonies. The creative team boasts extensive experience, having previously been responsible for the opening and closing ceremonies of major international sporting events, including the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, as well as the Hangzhou Asian Games and Para Games in 2023. 

This distinguished team has showcased many unforgettable moments of Chinese excellence to the world, Du Wenxi, deputy director of the News, Publicity, and Media Operations Department of the Executive Committee for the Asian Winter Games, said at the press conference.

Rehearsals for the opening ceremony are underway. The ceremony, centering around the official slogan of the Games, "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia," will highlight the concept of connecting Asian countries through ice and snow, creating new growth opportunities for the ice and snow economy, and promoting cultural exchanges between Asian countries, according to Du.

The ceremony will showcase the indomitable spirit and determination of Asian athletes who dare to dream and courageously pursue their dreams. It will convey a heartfelt friendship of being "one Asia," championing the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and an Asian community with a shared future, Du noted.

The 9th Asian Winter Games will see the highest participation in the event's history, with a total of 34 ­National Olympic Committees (NOCs) registered, according to the organizers.

A total of 1,275 athletes (755 men and 520 women) from 34 countries and regions across Asia have registered to participate in the Games. Cambodia and Saudi Arabia will be participating for the first time, indicating that the Asian Winter Games community is expanding, according to the press conference.

This record participation is a testament to the organizing capabilities of China to host international multi-sport events, Wang Dazhao, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"Apart from enjoying the facilities offered during the event, international athletes were left with lasting impressions and beautiful memories about previous multi-sport events held in China, such as the Beijing 2008 and the Beijing 2022. They were impressed by our volunteer services and their engagement with local residents," Wang noted.

"I think we need to uphold our tradition in staging an exciting international sports event and leave a legacy for both the international winter sports community and local people," Wang said. 

According to the competition schedule released by the organizers, the Chinese team will make its debut in the mixed doubles' curling round robin on the morning of February 4. The first gold medal of the Games will be awarded on the morning of February 8. 

Meanwhile, a cross-country skiing competition, one of the test events for the Games, kicked off on Monday at the Yabuli Ski Resort, one of the venues of the Games. In addition, a speed skating test event featuring over 65 athletes competing in seven disciplines is scheduled for Sunday and Monday.

In September, a total of 14 test events were planned for the Games, while seven of them have been completed, including ice hockey and short speed skating. 

"The test events, critical rehearsals for the Games, include timing competition management, medical support and media operations," an official with the local organizing committee told the Global Times. "The successful execution of a test event lays a solid foundation for the upcoming Asian Winter Games."

To create unforgettable moments of glory for the award-winning athletes, an award ceremony square for snow sports will be established at the Yabuli resort during the Games, according to the press conference.

Harbin has a long-standing heritage in ice and snow sports due to its natural snowy conditions during the winter. 

This is the second time the city has hosted the Asian Winter Games. The first time was in 1996.