Can fog and haze be prevented if we bid for the Winter Olympics? When can winter sports become a part of school activities? Why don't we have lectures on winter sports? Can Beijing be a successful bidder for the Olympic Winter Games? On Nov 15, Wang Hui, chief of the Publicity Department of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee, was asked these questions by dozens of pupils in front of the Beijing Olympic Building. "They are just like professional journalists," noted Wang.
"Our committee has three principles. It is athlete-centered and it supports sustainable development and thriftiness, including the sustainable use of venues. Also, we want to bring social capital to the Games, mainly through sponsorships and ticketing," Wang explained to the young reporters from Beijing and Zhangjiakou.
"Bidding for the Winter Olympics brings many more advantages," Wang continued with a smile. China has a very long history of winter sports, but it is not very well known. The Winter Olympics will promote the popularity of winter sports in China and give impetus to the development of the sports industry so that people's lives, especially those of the next generation, can be improved.
"We hope that more children can participate in winter sports. We want to make skating and skiing part of a popular new lifestyle. If our bid is successful, we'll build the first speed skating stadium in Beijing. When you children grow up, you can have fun there," said Wang.
"Currently, very few primary schools have winter sports facilities. We are going to start winter sports lessons at some of these schools. Then some of you can experience the fun of skating and skiing," added Gao Chao, deputy head of the bid committee's Publicity Department.
As for the issue of air pollution, the committee has taken a series of measures stipulated in the "Clean Air Action Plan 2013-2017," and the "Clean Air Action Plan 2018-2022" has been finalized. Bidding for the Winter Olympics can promote air control, while good air quality will make Beijing more attractive. "Making the sky bluer and water cleaner is one of our goals. We have confidence that we will be able to meet those goals," Wang asserted.
It's worth noting that on that day, one pupil called Ni Zihao also gave his painting to the committee, showing his wishes for the future. "Eight years from now, I will be a college student. I will work as a volunteer for the Winter Olympics and take many photos of the games," said Ni.
Lectures on winter sports are being held in many schools to publicize the Winter Olympics. In order to increase public support for the bid, the committee will also sponsor a poster program that collects design ideas from the public.