A dedicated roller skiing development committee has been established by the Chinese Ski Association ©CSA

A dedicated roller skiing development committee has been established by the Chinese Ski Association (CSA) to improve training methods for cross-country athletes in the nation.

The 13-member group, which forms part of China's winter sports drive in the build-up to the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, held its first meeting in Beijing earlier this month.

CSA vice-chairman Moses Zheng has been appointed director of the committee, which aims to help Chinese cross-country skiers with their training using roller skiing.

It is also hoped the group will increase participation in the sport in the nation.

A key part of Beijing's successful bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games was the promise to use the event to help encourage 300 million Chinese people to take up winter sports. 

The CSA development committee held its first meeting earlier this month ©CSA
The CSA development committee held its first meeting earlier this month ©CSA

"The establishment of the roller skiing committee comes at the right time as roller skiing is one of the best ways to practice cross-country skiing in summer time, allowing the masses to have one more way to stay fit," said Chinese Winter Sports Administration executive deputy director Dong Ding.

"The variety of the committee members will enable us to motivate a wide range of people to participate in sport and laying a solid foundation in direction of the Chinese snow sport development."

Last month, Beijing staged China's first International Ski Federation Roller Skiing World Cup.

The discipline is also on the programme of the Chinese Youth National Summer Games and the China National Winter Games.