Over 80,000 sports lovers flocked to the first ever World Winter Sports Expo in Beijing this week. The 4 day event, which wrapped up Saturday, attracted experts from around the world came to share their knowledge ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

World Winter Sports Expo wraps up in Beijing

No one has been dreading the winter cold here this week, with the World Winter Sports Expo being held in Beijing. The top winter sports providers and experts from around the world gathered in a first ever event for China. It was organised off the back off Beijing winning the rights to host the Winter Olympics in 2022.

"It's a great opportunity and right time for them to promote their solutions of their technology and services in China," said Jennifer Xu,conference organiser.

And that's exactly why the Expo has attracted so many foreign winter sports experts. Research shows there're more then 12 million keen skiiers in China alone.

"This is the most potential market for the future for the whole world for the whole winter world," said Simon Bosshart, Switzerland Tourism director.

Organisers were hoping to attract one hundred thousand people but actual attendance was closer to 80 thousand. However it's still proven popular enough that it's now going to be an annual event.

"It is slightly less than we expected but very good quality. Good people are here. The right people are here, really industry leaders are here," Bosshart said.