MOST of the competition venues of the Beijing Winter Games will be ready for trial events next year, and the first trial event, Alpine ski World Cup will be held in the Yanqing zone, said an official with the Games’ organizing committee Thursday.

Wang Yanxia, deputy director of the sports department of the Games’ organizing committee, also a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, told Xinhua during the ongoing “two sessions” that China is preparing for 15 trial events for the Winter Olympic Games and five Paralympic Winter Games trial events this year.

Wang admitted that China is quite lacking in professional personnel for organizing competitions, referees and technical officials due to its weak basis in winter sports. Therefore, China has taken a series of measures to establish a professional and international team.

Wang said that 1,000 domestic technical officials for all the 15 disciplines of the Games were cultivated and 25 international experts in planning and organizing competitions were brought in last year. Another 470 domestic personnel have been trained through competitions held both at home and abroad.

“Besides, specialized postgraduates have been jointly cultivated by universities and sports authorities,” Wang added.(Xinhua)