(ATR)Beijing, host city for the 2022 Winter Olympics, is adding another major winter sports event to its repertoire.
The World Curling Federation announced it will stage its first World Women's Curling Championship in the Chinese capital in 2017.
WCF president Kate Caithness said in a statement on Monday that the event will play a key role in the promotion of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
Caithness added, "It is a good time for winter sports in Asia with the next two Winter Olympic Games set to be held in PyeongChang, Korea in 2018 and in Beijing in 2022."
Sun Xuecai, vice-director general of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, echoed Caithness' sentiments.
"The 2017 World Women's Curling Championship 2017 will act as a warm-up event for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games and will be an important tool to promote winter sports in our country."
Twelve teams will compete in the 2017 edition of the World Women's Curling Championship, March 18-26. China will automatically qualify as hosts.
China have won three women's curling world championship medals. The team won gold in 2009, a silver in 2008, and a bronze in 2011.
Switzerland are the reigning world champions.
The team will defend its tile at the 2016 edition of the World Women's Curling Championship in Swift Current, Canada, March 19-26.
Written byNicole Bennett
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