Beloved former athlete not snowed into one role

Cross-country skier proves dedication to sports doesn't end at retirement as he helps make Asian Winter Games a success, Li Yingxue reports in Harbin.

Twenty-nine years ago at the 3rd Asian Winter Games in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province, 23-year-old Qu Donghai made history as the first Chinese athlete to compete in a snow event, securing a silver medal in the men's 15km freestyle cross-country skiing competition held in Yabuli.

Fast forward nearly three decades and the 9th Asian Winter Games have returned to Harbin, once again in Yabuli. But this time, Qu's role has shifted. Now an official overseeing event services for the winter competitions, he supports athletes, technical officials and others involved in making the Games successful.

Qu knows every inch of Yabuli — from the venues to the ski trails. From last summer to now, he has witnessed the site's evolution from an empty space into a buzzing competition hub.