DUSHANBE, 09.01.2019. (NIAT Khovar) – The torch of the International Winter Sports Games called Children of Asia arrived on the Kuril Islands, in the Sakhalin Oblast located north of Japan, on Sunday.

The torch will go through all the islands of the Kuril Ridge for a week. Twenty torchbearers will be carrying the torch through the ridge, reports the Press Center of the Games Directorate.

The route’s end point will be the opening ceremony of the games on February 8 in the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, located in a nearby large island also in the Sakhalin Oblast.

In total, more than 370 torchbearers will take part in the 4112 kilometer relay.

Athletes from Tajikistan and 19 other countries will take part in the competitions.

Young athletes below the age of 17 will compete in eight sports, including figure skating, hockey, short track, alpine skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, cross-country skiing and ski jumping.

In total, 1,300 athletes, 600 judges and 1,000 volunteers will participate in the games.

The games will end on February 17.

The next Children of Asia International Winter Sports Games will be held in 2022.

ON PHOTO: The torch relay of the Children of Asia International Winter Sports Games arrived on the Kuril Islands / sakhalin2019.org.