The Yanqing National Sliding Center is due to be completed later this month ©Beijing 2022

The Chinese national team is expected to begin preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on its home ice after it was reported that the construction of the National Sliding Center in Yanging is nearing its completion.

According to China's official state press agency Xinhua News, the ice-making for the facility started on September 18 and the complex is expected to be finalised by the end of October.

China's top bobsleigh, skeleton and luge athletes should then be allowed to begin training on the ice in November.

The Beijing Major Projects Construction headquarters confirmed on September 27 that 90 per cent of the track's ice-making had been completed, as well as 60 per cent of the track ice-repairing work too.

Eight international ice makers from Russia, France, Canada and other countries and regions participated in the creation of the ice, along with 20 domestic workers.

The National Sliding Center will become the first competition venue of Beijing 2022 where the national team can train - 16 months before the scheduled start of the Games.

Geng Wenqiang took part in the skeleton event at Pyeongchang 2018 when China made their Olympic debut in the sliding sports ©Getty Images
Geng Wenqiang took part in the skeleton event at Pyeongchang 2018 when China made their Olympic debut in the sliding sports ©Getty Images

Yanqing is a subdivision of the municipality of Beijing located northwest of the Chinese capital.

Besides the sliding sports, it is also scheduled to stage Alpine skiing during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Beijing 2022 is currently scheduled to take place from February 4 to 20 in 2022.

A support management team has also been set up to make sure the national team are able to train at the facility.

By the end of 2020, reports state that the National Alpine Skiing Center and the Yangqing Winter Olympic Village will also be completed.

The National Sliding Center in Yanqing are the first bobsleigh, skeleton and luge tracks in China and offers a seating capacity of 2,000, as well as a further 8,000 standing capacity.

China's bobsleigh team will be hoping for home advantage at Beijing 2022 ©Getty Images
China's bobsleigh team will be hoping for home advantage at Beijing 2022 ©Getty Images

China has little history in sliding sports.

They made their Winter Olympics debut at Lake Placid 1980, but did not compete in bobsleigh or skeleton until the last Games at Pyeongchang in 2018.

They had two teams who competed in the men's two-man event, finishing 26th and 29th respectively, who combined to finish 29th in the four-man event.

In the skeleton their only competitor was Geng Wenqiang, who finished 13th.

China have never taken part in luge at the Winter Olympics.