Guo Jianjun, director of the sports administration's juvenile department, told China Daily that while Beijing's 2022 bid has received wide publicity, hosting the youth games will send a strong message to the world that China is involving young people in its campaign.

"It's an ideal opportunity to demonstrate how warmly Chinese young people are embracing the Olympic movement to support the bid," Guo said.

Staged on a snow-covered frozen lake, the sports gala will see students compete in winter sports including five-a-side snow soccer, ice hockey and skating. They will also experience bobsled rides, snowmobile racing and lake fishing.

Educational programs featuring Olympic history, values, exercise skills and knowledge will also be held.

Zhang Hong, the event's ambassador and an Olympic champion skater, expects the meeting to encourage students to take part in winter sports.

"When I was a child, I was passionate about ice skating and worked hard at it. An interest in sport is the best way to teach and motivate youngsters to take part," said Zhang, who won China's first long-track speed skating gold medal in women's 1,000 meters at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

The gala is also part of the Ministry of Education's efforts to improve student's fitness by using school breaks in the winter, when physical education is usually reduced by the weather.

Lu Xun, an official at the ministry's Physical Education, Health and Arts Department, said, "The event will inspire students to exercise even in winter, and will help them to develop good habits in taking exercise throughout the year.