Beijing launches Organising Committee for 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

"We will promote winter sports and develop winter sports industry in a bid to attract 300 million people to ice and snow."

Seven years after hosting the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Chinese capital launched the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (Beijing 2022), promising a "fantastic, extraordinary and excellent" Games.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli addressed the launch ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday (15 December), saying that "to host a successful Winter Games is China's solemn commitment to the Olympic Family", as well as "an important move to push for the co-ordinated development" of Beijing and neighbouring cities.

China aims to create a new economic belt and environment-friendly zone, incorporating the surrounding Hebei Province, and Tianjin, a port city to the capital's southeast.

Zhang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that Chinese leaders attached great importance to the preparation for the Games.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the organisers to "work harder to host a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Games".

Xi stressed a "green" Olympics and called for a heightened level of city management, broader appeal of winter sports in China, stricter budget control and strengthened supervision.

Beijing 2022 President Guo Jinlong said the organisers will study the Host City Contract (HCC) and Olympic Agenda 2020 before they map out a detailed task agenda.

"We will pore over the HCC and the Olympic Agenda 2020, and review our bid commitments before we work out the roadmap and timetable," Guo said.

"We shall ensure every task is accomplished," he added.

Guo reiterated that preparation for the Olympics and the Paralympics would be treated equally.

"We will enhance the communication with the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee, further co-operate with the International Federations, and listen to their advice on stadium construction, competition arrangement and talent training," Guo said.

China is seeking to impress the world not only as a good host but also as a sport power.

"We will promote winter sports and develop winter sports industry in a bid to attract 300 million people to ice and snow," said Chinese Olympic Committee President Liu Peng, also Beijing 2022 Executive President.

"In terms of competition, we are going to mobilize the resource all over the nation to achieve excellent results," Liu said.

The launch ceremony was also attended by Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong, Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun and Hebei Governor Zhang Qingwei.