Xi's passion and action for winter sports and activities

Care and encouragement

During a visit to the Chinese delegation to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Xi said that athletes' success would not be measured only by the number of medals they win, but also by how they demonstrate the Olympic spirit of constantly improving themselves and surpassing their limit.

In February 2017, at the end of an ice hockey scrimmage by a group of elementary school students from Beijing at the Wukesong sports center, Xi shook hands with each of them while praising their skills.

Xi bent over and bumped a nine-year-old hockey player's shoulder with his own — a special greeting in the game.

"Grow a little bit stronger, young man," Xi said to him with a smile.

"I hope some of you will make your way to the national team in the future," he said.