The city of Shenyang, Liaoning province will be hosting the 1st (Shenyang) IVV International Citizen Winter Olympiad, in Jan 2017, in cooperation with the International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV), a non-profit organization, providing a place where people from the region and abroad can enjoy winter some sports fun and competition.

The First (Shenyang) IVV International Citizen Winter Olympiad Press Conference at National Convention Center, Beijing, on Feb 24. [Photo/www.comnews.cn]

Participants at the First (Shenyang) IVV International Citizen Winter Olympiad Press Conference, at National Convention Center, Beijing, on Feb 24. [Photo/cri.cn]

The announcement was made at a press conference, at the city of Beijing's National Convention Center, on Feb 24, with invitations having been sent out to people around the globe to come to Shenyang and take part. The city already held a public sports meet, working with IVV, April - October 2015, with more than 40 contests and hundreds of ordinary people taking part.

It was with this in mind, and considering its geographic and climate advantages that Shenyang decided to hold the winter games in 2017, with the IVV International Citizen Winter Olympics tentatively scheduled for Jan 12-14, 2017.

Bicycle event at a Shenyang public sports meet, in Liaoning province, April 11, 2015. [Photo/Shenyang Daily]

The IVV is a non-profit organization founded in 1968 by Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria with the aim of promoting health, peace and understanding among member countries through non-competitive, popular outdoor sports, such as walking, bicycling, swimming, cross-country skiing, skating and snowshoeing.