Officials resolute in push for Winter Olympics

Despite uncertainties about the popularity of winter sports in China, the joint bid by Beijing and Zhangjiakou for the 2022 Winter Olympics remains solid amid a belief the Games would boost regional cooperation in economic development and pollution control, say officials.

After the Chinese Olympic Committee announced the joint bid in November, questions about the wisdom of Beijing and neighboring Hebei province's ability to hold the Games have been raised.

However, experts and officials say the benefits will far outweigh any disadvantages.

Preparing for the event will inspire Beijing and Hebei, geographically surrounding the Chinese capital, to stand firmly together against common issues such as air pollution, says Yang Xiaochao, vice-mayor of Beijing.

"If we share a common goal, it's easier to battle against the severe haze, which has affected all of North China, by cooperating," Yang says.

To improve the air quality, Beijing and Hebei will work closely in monitoring, analysis and research issues, he says.

As part of the joint effort, Hebei will complete the demolition of 18 cement powder-making plants and 377 storage silos by the end of March, reducing the high-polluting product by 9.1 million tons.

Hou Liang, mayor of Zhangjiakou, supported Yang, saying more State support and funds will be granted to tackle pollution because of the Olympic bid.

Not only the environment but also the economic development of the province will be fueled if the central government offers more preferential policies and budget support, says Liu Jingmin, executive vice chairman of Beijing Olympic City Development Association.

"The level of social and economic development in Beijing is much higher than the average level in Hebei and the gap has widened over recent years because superior resources have been allocated to Beijing," Liu says.

"The lack of a major international cooperative program is one of the key reasons why this area couldn't develop into an urban agglomeration like the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. If the bid succeeds, this is a great opportunity."

According to a plan announced by the bidding committee during the Sochi Winter Olympics, the MasterCard Center in Beijing, host of the 2008 Summer Olympics' basketball tournament, would stage most of the ice sports, while the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, would host the opening and closing ceremonies.

The 2008 Olympic heritage featuring ready-made facilities and cultural icons represents a huge advantage to Beijing in winning the bid again, Yang says.

"We have almost all the required venues here, so the cost of construction and rebuilding will be limited," he says.

Nonetheless, a stadium with a 400-meter track for long-distance speed skating needs to be built in the Olympic Center, Yang says.

Some of the skiing events, including alpine skiing, would be held at venues in Beijing's Yanqing county located between Beijing and Zhangjiakou, which is about 220 kilometers from central Beijing. It would host most of the other ski sports in Chongli county.

The joint bid has led to major projects being launched in Hebei.

To cut travel time, the construction of a high-speed railway connecting Beijing and Zhangjiakou will begin this year and is expected to be finished in 2017. The train trip will take only 40 minutes, compared with the current four-hour drive.

A further boom in the tourism industry is also foreseen, says Yang Jingzhi, former deputy director of Hebei provincial sports bureau.

"Zhangjiakou has built a name for winter tourism over the years, but the accommodation facilities still do not meet the demands of hosting such a great event. The potential for the winter tourism industry here is huge, and successfully hosting the Olympics will help realize it."

Huangtuzui village is an example. It contains more than 30 family-operated hotels, and work on many high-end tourism projects has begun.

Chongli county government, the number of visitors exceeded 1 million, and related income reached 670 million yuan ($111 million) last year. Annual visitor numbers are expected to reach as much as 4 million by 2020.

Lin Xianpeng, sports industry professor at Beijing Sport University, says the bid for the Games will help cement Zhangjiakou's status as a winter sports entertainment destination in North China and boost local catering and accommodation businesses in the years to come.

A candidature file consisting of 101 points drafted by a panel including members of the General Administration of Sports, Beijing and Hebei representatives, was submitted to the International Olympic Committee on March 14, Liu says.

A more detailed report needs to be filed next January and the bid winner will be announced the following July.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 03/21/2014 page15)