The 5,045-seat sports palace in
Yarmag, built by the Government of China at a cost of 111 million yuan, was
opened on Thursday at a ceremony attended by, among others, Prime Minister
S.Batbold, Minister of Health S.Lambaa, Minister of Finance S.Bayartsogt, the
Chairman of the Mongolian National Committee of Physical Culture and Sports
Ch.Naranbaatar, and Ambassador of China Yu Hong Yao.

Both Prime Minister Batbold and
Ambassador Yu said in their speech that the palace was a testimony to bilateral
friendship and would contribute substantially to the development of sport in
Mongolia. The Ambassador had earlier handed over the key to the palace to
Minister Bayartsogt as a symbolic gesture.

In his inaugural speech Lambaa
noted that the palace met international standards and was well equipped, and
hoped this would lead to more success by Mongolian athletes.

The main arena is 2,950 sq m in
area. It also has two smaller halls for training, 104 rooms, including for special
services, as well as three rooms for the media. The Chinese side has also
installed sports equipment.