Baotou city, located in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, is to launch a speed skating marathon in mid-January 2020, according to a report in the Inner Mongolia Daily.

More than 500 ice and snow sports lovers from North China and Northeast China are expected to join in the event.

The marathon, as part of a series of national ice and snow season activities, will be co-hosted by the Winter Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport and the Sports Bureau of Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

It will run from mid-January to early February on the artificial lake located in Baotou Olympic Park.

Activities will include the Baotou Speed Skating International Invitational Tournament, the First Baotou Ice Hockey Friendship Tournament, Baotou Youth Short Track Speed Skating Invitational Tournament and the Baotou Ice and Snow Fun Tournament.

In addition, activities will be staged such as a Baotou ice and snow display, short track speed skating training sessions and exhibitions featuring the ice and snow sports development of Baotou city.