$30 million set aside to boost participation

China's sports governing body has announced a $30 million program to develop the country's less-popular winter events.

Zhao Yinggang, deputy secretary-general of the Beijing bid committee and director of China's winter sports administrative center, made the announcement on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, where International Olympic Committee members are meeting to select the host site of the 2022 Winter Games. Beijing and proposed co-host Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, are competing for the Games against Almaty, Kazakhstan.