The 14th National Winter Games – originally due to be run in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, but postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak – is now expected to be held at the end of this year.

That’s according to information released at a news conference held by the Inner Mongolia sports bureau.

The games organization committee has submitted a paper called Opinions on Postponing the Schedule of the 14th National Winter Games to the autonomous region’s government, which recommends that they be held in December.

Officials said holding the games in that month will avoid complicated procedures and celebrations, reducing the risk of people gathering.

Officials said the proposal got green light from the autonomous region’s government and is awaiting further assessment from the General Administration of Sport.

The Winter Games was originally scheduled to open on February 16 in Hulunbuir city in Inner Mongolia and close on February 26.

It is the first large comprehensive sports meet to be held in Inner Mongolia for over 70 years. Local officials said it is also the biggest, most professional and highest-level winter sporting event to be held in China before the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

The Winter Games will have seven major events, 15 sub-items and 149 minor events. 

It will also include summer competitions such as roller skating and mass competitions such as dragon boats on ice and snow football, bringing the total professional and non-professional competition events to 2020.