Athletes centre stage of Harbin’s Asian Winter Games

China is world class at staging world class events in summer and winter. I have just spent the last few days at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin where athletes were placed at the heart of this exciting and well executed event. @Worldathletics has three world championship events In the next two years in China - the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing in just a few weeks time. The world relays in Guangzhou in May.  And then the jewel in the crown in 2027 in Beijing, our World outdoor Championships.

• China's track and field athletes are growing in stature all the time.

• Loughborough University, where I am the chancellor, is developing plans with coaches in China to support training pathways and programmes.

• China has more people that are regularly running than any other country in the world.

• Chinese government - national and local - understand that running and athletics is probably one of the best sports for helping develop the health and vibrancy, both mentally and physically, of young people.