Off the wire
• Urgent: Russia announces decision to join AIIB  • Drug-driving injures 7 in east China  • Roundup: UN members denounce religion- and ethnicity-based crimes in Mideast  • Cambodian PM flies to Singapore to attend Lee Kuan Yew's funeral  • 1st LD-Writethru: China continues to promote win-win cooperation  • 1st LD-Writethru: China to import goods worth 10-trln-USD in 5 years  • Russian spacecraft docks at ISS  • President Xi: China will vigorously promote regional financial cooperation  • President Xi calls 2015 important year, historic juncture  • China to import goods worth 10-trln-USD in 5 years  
You are here: 　 Home

2008 Olympics legacy teaches Beijing how to cut back on 2022 cost

Xinhua, March 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Beijing has vowed to deliver an economical 2022 Winter Olympic Games should it win the bid.

Wang Anshun, Beijing mayor and president of the Beijing 2022 Committee, said the Chinese capital will make a meticulous budget plan to lower cost on the condition that the Games can be staged successfully.

Based on the Agenda 2020 reforms of the IOC, Beijing presents three concepts in bid - running athletes-centered Games, ensuring sustainable development and hosting economical Games.

"Beijing will lower the cost of staging the Games through thorough marketing, proper arrangement of venues and activities on the condition that the Games can be delivered successfully," said Wang.

The legacy from 2008 Games play an important role in hosting an economical Games.

"The legacy of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is the biggest advantage for the 2022 bid," said National People's Congress member Yang Xiaochao.

Out of the 12 competition and non-competition venues in Beijing, 11 are existing venues inherited from the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

The "Water Cube" Aquatic Center and the National Indoor Stadium are planned for hosting the competitions of ice sports, including figure skating, short track speed skating, ice hockey and curling, while the "Bird Nest" will hold the opening and closing ceremonies.

New venues are planned to hold events like speedskating, biathlon, cross-country skiing and alpine skiing. They will become training bases, competition venues and be open to winter sports fans. The Olympic Village and media village will turn into hotels and condominiums.

"In the very beginning Beijing has had scientific planning for the Olympic legacy. The 2022 Games legacy will fit in the long-term project of the area," said Wang.

Apart from the venues, the experience of holding the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and a series of international competitions will also help Beijing save time and money in holding another Olympic Games.

Wang also stressed the importance of sustainable development. "To host an economical Games we must ensure sustainable development," he said.

Beijing views the Olympic Winter Games not only as a significant international sports event, but also a valuable opportunity to speed up the development of the host cities, the region around them and even the country.

Beijing 2022 has been included in the "National Strategy of Integrated and Coordinated Development" of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and the long-term regional development plans.

City development will provide strong backing for the hosting of the Winter Olympics.

Changes have already taken place in Chongli, a small county about 200 kilometers from Beijing.

Chongli, famous for modern ski resorts, has attracted more than three million people to go skiing last season, including visitors from Asia, Europe and America. Endi