Beijing ready to host Olympics amid pandemic, official says

Despite the grave challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Beijing is ready to host the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, a Games official said.

"The Bird's Nest, which became known to the world after the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics will soon hold the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, and Beijing will be the first city in the world to host both Games," Xiao Junfeng, deputy director of the Winter Games organizing committee's media and communications department, said on Tuesday.

The organizing committee has been working closely with the international Olympic and International Paralympic committees and sports organizations to ensure preparations for the Games are completed on time despite the pandemic, Xiao said during the China-SCO-Eurasia Youth Leaders Dialogue.

The event was jointly held in Beijing by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission and China Daily on Tuesday.

"The construction of all 12 competition venues has been completed, and they have all passed assessments conducted by international sports organizations," she said. "The facilities also successfully hosted a series of test events between October and December. The Winter Olympic Village will open on Jan 27, and the Main Media Center has already been put to use."

The organizing committee also introduced epidemic control guidelines to protect the health of the participants, which is the priority of the Games, Xiao added. "Faced with the pandemic, it's more important than ever to ensure the Games are safe and splendid."

Sustainable development and environmental friendliness were key concepts guiding preparation work and construction, and this will be the first carbon-neutral Winter Olympics.

All venues will be powered by green electricity. In addition, 11 venues in the Beijing competition zone were used in the 2008 Olympics, Xiao said.

The Games will be a great platform to promote cultural exchange, she said. The festivities kick off on Feb 4, which coincides with the Spring Festival holiday this year.

"I am sure athletes and journalists around the world will be charmed by the passion of the Chinese people and enjoy Chinese culture," she said. What's more, the Games have inspired many young Chinese to take part in winter sports.

Chinese athletes will compete in all the events at the Games this year. When Beijing won its bid for the Games in 2015, the country's athletes only took part in one-third of Winter Olympics events, Xiao said.

She added that the Games are also a great opportunity to boost understanding of China and enhance international cooperation, especially as the world is dealing with the pandemic.