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Brazil's sports minister and Rio 2016 organizers both congratulated Beijing on winning the bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, saying they believed the Chinese capital would host a "great" Winter Olympics.
Beijing beat the Kazakhstani city of Almaty, the only other contender, in the IOC vote held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 31 to become the first city to host a summer and winter games.
"We congratulate China on another success in bidding for the Olympics," said Minister of Sports George Hilton in a statement to China Daily. "China will undoubtedly gain many medals at the games. Beijing’s win of the 2022 Winter Olympics is a result of the Chinese government's long-term focus on sports development."
"Brazil has already gained much from China's experience and we have every interest in cooperating with China in order to make the 2022 Games a worldwide success," he said.
"China is having a great moment right now in various sectors, such as energy and business trade. With the previous experience of holding an amazing Summer Olympics, I believe this is a great opportunity for Beijing," he added.
The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics was hailed as "truly exceptional" by then IOC president Jacques Rogge. With its 2022 Winter Olympics concept of hosting athlete-centered, sustainable and economical games, China looks to make further contributions to the Olympic movement.
The organizers of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games said Beijing displays the trust required by the International Olympic Committee so as to be awarded the 2022 Winter Games, and Rio is willing to share its experience with Beijing in the future.
"The success of organizing the 2008 Summer Games gives the IOC the trust needed. The Olympic family trusts China and Beijing because they know China will deliver. That’s an assurance for the IOC," Mario Andrada, chief spokesman for the Rio2016 organizing committee, told China Daily in a telephone interview.
"I hope the games benefit the population in China. The Chinese will have a chance to learn about and fall in love with winter sports. That will be very positive," he added.
With the 2016 Summer Games approaching, Rio is focused on preparation. Andrada said Rio is ready to share its experience with Beijing.
"That's one the most important traditions of the Olympic movement. The cities help each other all the time. We got a lot of help from London and Beijing. We try to give information to Tokyo. And now maybe Beijing can learn something from Rio," he said.
