The legacy of the Summer Olympics back in 2008 could help Beijing get to host the Winter Games. (Photo : Reuters)
Beijing's 2022 Winter Olympic Games bid has left a positive impression to the organizers of Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
"I think it's very impressive that Beijing is bidding for the Winter Olympics after hosting the Summer Games," Rio 2016 Organizing Committee chief spokesman Mario Andrada told Xinhua News Agency.
Commenting on the competition between Beijing and Kazakhstan's Almaty, Mario said, "overall, it's a beautiful race between [the two]."
"Beijing is one of the major cities in the world. The competition between Beijing and Almaty brings a lot of positive factors to the Olympic Movement," he furthered.
Then International Olympics Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has lauded the China capital's hosting of 2008 Summer Olympics, hailing it as "truly exceptional."
With its 2022 bid concept of holding a grand athlete-centered and economical Olympic Games, China is seen as a source of significant contribution to the Olympic Movement.
"I understand that part of the issues discussing the Agenda 2020 is to create a more modern process of selecting host city and a modern way of dealing with the Games. This is the positive contribution," Andrada pointed out.
By the end of July, the IOC is set to choose the winning bidder for the 2022 Olympic Games at its 128th session to be held in Kuala Lumpur.
Should Beijing win the bid, it will be the first city to host both the summer and winter editions of the highly anticipated Games.
Beijing has submitted a bid together with Zhangjiakou, a city in the province of Hebei located 200 kilometers northwest of the Chinese capital.
