IOC official happy with preparation

Organizers pledge venues to be in place for services in 2019

Beijing's preparations for the 2022 Winter Games have won international acclaim for their focus on sustainability.

"The Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee has made good progress in its preparations for sustainable Olympic Winter Games that will benefit the city, region and country for decades to come," said Alexander Zhukov, chairman of the coordinating committee of the International Olympic Committee.

The first city awarded both the Summer and Winter Olympics will reuse much of the original infrastructure, including the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube, and the National Stadium, dubbed the Bird's Nest. The Wukesong Sports Center, a venue for the 2008 men's basketball events, will prepare itself for ice hockey competitions during the Olympic Winter Games.

Construction of new facilities, including the National Speed Skating Oval, and renovation of existing venues are slated to be completed by the end of 2019, according to the Beijing Organizing Committee.

New infrastructure projects are also under construction.

They include a high-speed rail line linking Beijing and Zhangjiakou, a co-host city in neighboring Hebei province, and an expressway connecting downtown Beijing and its outskirt district Yanqing, where alpine skiing competitions will be held during the Games.

"It was impressive to see how the (Beijing) Organizing Committee has not only capitalized on the venue legacy from 2008, but has also integrated long-lasting sustainable solutions across its various priorities," Zhukov said.

(China Daily 07/31/2017 page5)