China is looking for a new breed of winter sports icons. (Photo : Reuters)
Beijing, which was recently awarded the rights to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, is optimistic that there will be a birth of new batch of sports icons.
Admitting that China has no great winter sports record, the country is in search for possible sports figures that will lead its athletes in winter games.
Eighteen-year-old and Beijing bid ambassador Song Andong, who made headlines after being drafted by the National Hockey League team New York Islanders earlier in June, is one of the icons China hopes to set example for the games, particularly for hockey.
Chinese hockey teams, both male and female, have never bagged an Olympic medal.
For figure skating, teenagers Yan Han and Li Zijun are being eyed to replace pioneers Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, who both retired in 2010. The figure skating legends brought home China's first gold medals in the said sport at the previous Olympic Winter Games and World Championships.
Meanwhile, a new breed of short track speed skaters, coached mainly by Li Yan, is expected to come out, as the sport will be overseen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and skating star Yang Yang.
Yang was the first Chinese who won the Winter Olympic gold in Salt Lake City in 2002.
China is also searching for a new aerial skier star, as famed Li Nina, also a Beijing bid ambassador, has retired.
Beijing has proposed a $1.5 billion budget for establishing three Olympic villages, sports venues and other related infrastructure for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The IOC also expressed support by offering an additional $880 million for the staging of the Games' winter edition.
According to Zhang Chunsheng, a regional chief of the organizing committee in the co-bidding city, Zhangjiakou, plans to host winter events prior to the 2022 Olympics are underway to gain operational experience.
