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Harbin, capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, has won the bid to host the 9th Asian Winter Games in 2025. The Olympic Council of Asia announced the decision at its 42nd General Assembly held in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday. It marks the regional games will be staged in China for the third time following Harbin in 1996 and Changchun, capital city of Jilin province, in 2007. As the most competitive winter sports event in Asia, the Asian Winter Games has been successfully held for eight times. Harbin successfully held the 3rd Asian Winter Games in February, 1996, which was also the first time that China held the intercontinental comprehensive winter event. Harbin, covered with snow throughout winter and where skiing and skating are very popular, has nurtured a number of world-renowned winter sport athletes, including Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, who won China's first Olympic gold medal in pairs skating at Vancouver 2010, skaters Zhang Hong and Ren Ziwei. "The hosting of the 9th Asian Winter Game is consistent with Harbin's urban development plan and sustainable development goals," Zhang Qixiang, the mayor of Harbin, said at the speech on the assembly. "We will fully cooperate with the Olympic Council of Asia, the Chinese Olympic Committee and sports organizations in the world and Asia and provide perfect urban facilities and sports venues to hold a dynamic, open, frugal and civilized Asian Winter Games." "It must be a dream for every athlete to participate in sports competitions in his hometown, including me," said Ren Ziwei, a Harbin-born skater who claimed two Olympic golds at Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. "I'm looking forward to winning glory for our country and having better performance at the event held in my hometown."
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