LAUSANNE -- The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games Bid Team on Tuesday presented a splendid scenery of a great Winter Olympic Games at the foot of the Great Wall.
At the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, the eight-member Beijing team put forward a strong case to the members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), embracing the Olympic Agenda 2020 principles through the theme of athletes-centered, sustainable and economical Games.
During the candidate city briefing, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong confirmed the full support of the Chinese government for the bid of Beijing, together with Zhangjiakou, for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
"We have always be a loyal partner with the IOC, the Chinese people are passionate about the Olympic Winter Games, they are eager to contribute to the Games," Liu said.
Beijing mayor Wang Anshun suggested to the IOC members the safest choice is to choose Beijing as the host city for the 2022 Winter Games, as it also boasts of the most attractive scenery of the Great Wall in its suburb city of Yanqing.
"We are the safest choice for the IOC, the most reliable partner for all stakeholders, and we are confident of that," said mayor Wang.
The Chinese Olympic Committee president Liu Peng said the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics will boost participation and involvement in winter sports across the country, open a bright future for winter sports in China, Asia and the world, as China has set off on an ambitious "Long March" to get 300 million Chinese people involved in skiing and skating events.
He believes that China, a world power in summer sports, will also become a giant in winter sports as being promised in Beijing's bid file for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
On behalf of the Chinese Olympic Committee, Liu also confirmed his full support to the Beijing 2022 bid.
Yang Lan, a famous anchorwoman and a member of the Beijing bid team, mentioned that Beijing, one of the world's top destinations for tourism and business, has welcomed more than 260 million visitors last year.
"Beijing 2022 has signed contracts with 132 hotels, so there is no need to build new hotels for the Games," she said.
According to her, the estimated travel time from Beijing to the Yanqing venue will be reduced to 20 minutes, and from Beijing to the Zhangjiakou venue, only 50 minutes.
"During the Games, travel by high-speed rail will be free for all accredited people and ticketed spectators," she told.
Zhou Xing, the financial officer for the Beijing 2022 team, told the IOC members that the Games budget is balanced and projected to be 1.56 billion US dollars, in 2014 terms.
The sports industry in China will reach 800 billion US dollars by the year 2025, the size and continued growth of the market in China will substantially benefit the Games as well as the Olympic Movement.
IOC member Yang Yang, a two-time Olympic champion in short track speed skating, told her IOC colleagues that athletes are deeply involved in the bid and their opinions and voices are heard.
Beijing 2022 will provide the best possible sports environment for athletes with outstanding venues and excellent services, and all of the venues will be completed two winter seasons before the Games, she noted.
"My dream came true, it would be an even greater honor for me to welcome athletes from around the world to achieve their dreams in my country," she said.
Athletes could also have the chance to feast on the Spring Festival, the most important tradition in China with fun and entertaining activities, during the 2022 Winter Games if being held in China, Yang added.
Formally announcing its bid in November 2013, Beijing was one of the three cities selected by the IOC's Executive Board on July 7, 2014.
Oslo of Norway withdrew its candidacy later that year, leaving only Almaty and Beijing in the bidding race.
The IOC will make its decision during its 128th session in Kuala Lumpur on July 31, and Beijing could become the first city ever to host both the summer and winter Olympic Games.
