Beijing's Winter Olympics bid praised by IOC inspectors
IOC inspectors left Beijing on Sunday after praising the capital's bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics that, if successful, would make it the first city to hold both the winter and summer games.
IOC inspectors left Beijing on Sunday after praising the capital's bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics that, if successful, would make it the first city to hold both the winter and summer games.
Their departure followed a news conference at which Evaluation Commission chairman Alexander Zhukov affirmed Beijing's embrace of the IOC's goals for a more frugal, sustainable and athlete-centred event.
Beijing's bid relies heavily on the experience and infrastructure gained from the 2008 Summer Olympics, as well as expanding the appeal of winter sports in the world's most populous nation.
"From this visit we can see that your Games in 2008 have left a profound legacy," Zhukov said. "We can also see the legacy of 2008 in the level of expertise and knowledge of the Beijing 2022 bid team," Zhukov said.
Beijing's inspections and presentations went without a hitch, although air pollution remained at high levels throughout the visit.
The visit was a test of Beijing's status as the front-runner against its rival Almaty, Kazakhstan. The International Olympic Committee will select the host on July 31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
