SHANGHAI, June 20(Xinhuanet)-- Preparations for the sixth WinterAsian Games went smoothly, said the organizing committee of the Games in the Shanghai New Expo Center on Monday.

The Games is slated in Changchun, Northeast China from January 28 to February 4, 2007, and will attract more than 3,000 athletes and officials from 44 countries and regions to the"North Spring City", said An Li, executive chairwoman of the organizing committee and vice mayor of the hosting city.

Changchun plans to invest 22 billion yuans for the Games, most of which for the construction of infrastructure, competition facilities as well as the organizing efforts, An said.

And 800 million will be directly used for the Games.

Besides, the logo and mascot of the Games have been registered in the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and the efforts for market development have been fully launched.

Apart from a new skiing ground, Changchun has built the biggest speed skating rink in the country, and refurbished seven stadiums to be appraised by the Olympic Council of Asia by the end of the year, said the vice mayor.

The quadrennial Games is the most comprehensive gala for winter sports in Asia, which features 47 events in 10 sports, including speedskating, short track speedskating, figure skating, ice hockey, curling and skiing. Enditem