China would send young athletes to participate in ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships 2008 running in Changchun, Northeast China from Feb. 22 to 24, a Chinese official said Wednesday.

According to Xing Shuo, official of General Administration of Sport, ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships 2008 is the first international speed skating tournament in China this year.

Ninety-nine athletes from 19 countries and regions, including China, Japan, Russia, Germany, Italy, Canada and the United States, will take part in the championships.

The championships feature women's all-around, men's all-around, women's quartets, men's quartets and team pursuit.

The 19-strong Chinese junior speed skating team includes Fu Chunyan, the bronze medal winner of women's all-around in ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships 2007, and Song Xingyu, the champion of men's 5000 meters, 10000 meters as well as men's all-around in China's 11th Winter Games, which was held in January.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2008)