Govt eyes 'safe, smooth' Games

Getting the nation involved

Citing the Games' value in popularizing winter sports in the world's most populous nation, deputies and advisors at the two sessions proposed focusing more on the legacy of Beijing 2022 to benefit the sustainable development of winter sports in China.

Thomas Wu, a member of the CPPCC's sports panel and a vice-president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, stressed in his proposal that the development of new Olympic projects will take the post-Games operation into full account.

"How to use new Olympic venues after the Games and maximize the value of such facilities is an interesting yet challenging topic for any host, and Beijing 2022 is no exception," said Wu, a Hong Kong entrepreneur and avid hockey promoter, in his proposal shared with China Daily.

In addition to hosting the national teams' training programs and other international competitions, Wu suggested that property owners and operators should diversify venue functions to explore business opportunities in tourism, conferencing and mass fitness to keep these facilities "profitable and sustainable" after the Games.

As part of Beijing 2022's official sustainability plan published in June, plans to turn all newly built Beijing 2022 venues into elite training bases, hosts for World Cup events and sports recreational destinations have been implemented by organizers and facility owners. These venues include the National Speed Skating Oval in the capital's downtown area and the National Sliding Center in Yanqing district.

The renovation of three existing venues, built for the 2008 Summer Olympics, into winter sports facilities for curling and ice hockey in 2022 earned praise from the international sports community.

"The transformation of Olympic venues to serve both the Summer and Winter Games has provided an excellent example for the hosts of large-scale events in the future toward sustainability. This will be a major characteristic of Beijing 2022," said Wu.

As the country attempts to make good on its promise of involving 300 million people in winter sports by 2022, the lack of expertise in grassroots training and facility management in the winter sports sector should be also addressed, said Yang Yang, a CPPCC member and former Winter Olympic champion.

Yang, who won China's first and second Winter Olympic gold medals at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, United States, filed a proposal to this year's session calling for better training of skiing and skating instructors at the grassroots level, and more professional management of facilities after Beijing 2022.

"Participation in winter sports among the public will keep growing beyond 2022, making it critical to offer safe and professional skill training as well as customer services to help more people first understand and then continue to enjoy winter sports," said Yang, who currently chairs Beijing 2022's athletes' commission.