URUMQI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The third Winter Games Around the Altai Mountains opened Tuesday in Altay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The event runs through Friday and features 16 medal events across three sports, including cross-country skiing, speed skating and ski mountaineering, with 13 delegations and a total of 200 athletes and coaches from China, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia taking part.

In the men's Group B 500-meter speed skating race held on the opening day, Yerzada, an athlete representing Urumqi in Xinjiang, China, won the title in 42.53 seconds.

"I'm very happy to take part in this event," said Yerzada. "It is not only a chance to test my training results, but also a valuable platform to communicate with young people from different countries and regions and enhance mutual understanding."

The Altai Mountains stretch more than 2,000 kilometers across China, Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. ■