The legacy of the Summer Olympics back in 2008 could help Beijing get to host the Winter Games. (Photo : Reuters)
China’s top political advisers announced on Friday that they are supporting Beijing’s Olympics bid and are rooting for the country’s chance to host the international games’ winter edition.
One of the officials, Beijing's Sports Medicine Hospital head, Li Guoping, stated that a recent increase in sports-related injuries is an indication that more Chinese are getting interested in winter sports.
Former NBA star Yao Ming, who is also a government adviser, remarked that sports will be more accessible to the Chinese populace with the aid of Winter Olympics' outdoor nature, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Yao said that "the Beijing 2022 bid would make Chinese people understand more about sport, and as the Winter Olympics feature more outdoor events than the Summer Games, it will get more Chinese involved in sport."
According to sports analysts, a key foundation of Beijing's Olympic bid is spreading the enthusiasm for winter sports. This is alongside the city's experience in hosting the games' summer edition back in 2008.
If the country's capital will win the bid, together with co-host Zhangjiakou, Beijing will become the first city to host both the Winter and the Summer Olympic Games.
The city is eyeing to send nearly $4 million for operations and infrastructure alone. However, co-bidding Zhangjiakou of the Hebei Province assured that private sector sponsorship and investments will answer the further costs.
On March 24, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) will visit Beijing and begin its four days of inspection. The IOC is set to inspect the city's plans as well as its three clusters of sports facilities.
The Beijing-Zhangjiakou tandem will only have one competitor for the Olympic bid--Almaty, Kazakhstan.
