The sport of snowshoeing was launched by Special Olympics China during 8-11 February in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province. Forty-five athletes gathered with Special Olympics China and Special Olympics Heilongjiang staff and volunteers to learn how to compete in snowshoeing. Charlie Chang, Director of Sports Development, Special Olympics East Asia , led the three-day training session. Athletes from Harbin have started training and plan to travel to Nagano, Japan, to compete in the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Special Olympics China staff will return to Beijing and other parts of China to conduct training seminars and provide other Special Olympics sub-Programs with the knowledge of how to conduct a snowshoeing program.