Beijing Takes Podium as Model of Future Games

Beijing will be a model sustainable host of the Olympic Games if it wins the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, bid organizers said.

With the International Olympic Committee calling for hosts of future Olympics to prioritize environmental and economic sustainability, Beijing has pledged that the 2022 Winter Olympics, if awarded to China, will comply with the IOC Agenda 2020, a reform proposal approved in December.

Beijing, with co-host city Zhangjiakou in surrounding Hebei province, is competing against Almaty, Kazakhstan, to host the 2022 Games. The winner will be selected on July 31 at the 128th IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur.

Beijing's 2022 bid, which features three major concepts - to run an athlete-focused Games, ensure sustainability and host an economical Olympics - reflects the aim of Agenda 2020, which is calling for future Olympics to be organized and hosted in line with the host city's long-term social and economic development to avoid excessive spending.

Future Games should also benefit the host city's residents while leaving a lasting heritage, according to the IOC reform plan.

"Beijing's vision to integrate the hosting of the 2022 Olympics into the region's strategy of development that also incorporates cooperation between Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province is in total agreement with IOC Agenda 2020," said Wang Anshun, mayor of Beijing and the bid committee chairman.

He said the Chinese capital's vision to promote winter sports among the 300 million people living in North China, which would likely improve public fitness and health while boosting the winter sports market, is part of the legacy that the nation wants to establish, according to an IOC evaluation report.

The IOC Evaluation Commission published its report in June after visiting Beijing and Zhangjiakou for on-site venue inspections in March.

"Our strong desire to host the Games received a significant boost from the report, which recognizes Beijing's strengths that include world-class venues and infrastructure, strong public and government support, a legacy plan closely linked to regional economic development and a strategy to develop winter sports and related industries," said Wang.

The committee's promotional campaign for Beijing's 2022 bid has already stirred public enthusiasm for ice-skating and skiing activities. More than 2,000 teenagers from a record 96 club teams signed up for the 2014-15 season Beijing junior ice hockey league, which concluded in April.

There also have been a variety of educational programs held at primary and secondary schools in Beijing to spread Olympic values among students over the past year.

In April, Yangfangdian Primary School in Haidian district hosted its 14th annual Olympic Culture Day after organizing a special outing for students to learn skiing at a resort in Zhangjiakou in January.

Promoting winter sports will influence youngsters to become potential participants and consumers of the country's fledging winter sports and tourism industries, said Wang Hui, deputy secretary-general and spokeswoman for the Beijing 2022 bid committee.

Wang added that upgrading in sports facilities are vital to improve winter sports industries.

According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development, there are 27 well-equipped ice-skating and skiing resorts around Beijing that receive more than 2.5 million consumers annually.

Several of the 2008 Beijing Olympics venues, such as the MasterCard Center, formerly known as Wukesong Arena, have constructed new facilities to cater to the increasing number of winter sports enthusiasts.

"Sports-themed packages such as venue-exploring tours and sports merchandizing sales have contributed a lot to Beijing's tourism industry since the 2008 Olympics. The bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics will build upon the momentum to further boost the business," said Wang Yue, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development.

"A variety of winter sports facilities will be built in Beijing and surrounding areas to become new attractions during the winter season, when people traditionally stay indoors rather than traveling around," Wang added.

Alexander Zhukov, Russian IOC member and chairman of the Evaluation Commission, was impressed by Beijing's vision and legacy plan for the 2022 Games.

"I can say that the Olympic spirit that Beijing and China showed the world in 2008 is alive and as strong as ever. Our visit has confirmed that Beijing is capable of hosting a successful Olympic Winter Games in 2022," said Zhukov after visiting Beijing in March.