Beijing confirms key infrastructure already in place for Games

The Beijing 2022 Bid Committee confirmed on Wednesday that the key infrastructure required to host the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is already in place, supported by the region's status as a modern world-class destination for tourism and business with a strong experience in hosting international events.

The confirmation was delivered as the Bid Committee presented its plans regarding accommodation, transport and media operations to the IOC Evaluation Commission in Beijing.

Renowned as one of the world's top destinations for business and tourism, Beijing enjoys quick and efficient transportation, world-class hotels, cosmopolitan cuisine and spectacular sightseeing. Last year, Beijing welcomed over 260 million domestic and international tourists eager to discover the millennia history of the Chinese capital and the exciting modern art, cuisine and entertainment scene it has to offer.

Yanqing, which would only be 20 minutes from Beijing by modern high-speed bullet train, is part of the Beijing Municipality, but even on its own the county registers a steady annual tourism growth of 4.3 percent with a rocketing hotel and services development boosted by preparations for the 2019 World Horticultural Expo.

Zhangjiakou, which would be reached in just 50 minutes from Beijing by modern high-speed bullet train, is a rapidly developing winter sports destination which has become very attractive to hotel and resort investment and has been seeing an average annual growth of 28.2 percent in hotel guest nights over the past three years.

Xiang Ping, Deputy Director of Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, said: "The IOC requirement for accommodation can be fully satisfied with our existing room supply. As there is no need for new hotels to be constructed for the Olympic Winter Games. The accommodation function will contribute to making Beijing 2022 truly sustainable and economical."

Modern, quick and efficient transport is a key element of the Beijing 2022 Bid. An integral part of the government's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Intercity Rail Master Plan, the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail link has already begun and will be fully operational by early 2019 and is being delivered independently from the Games.

The travel time from Beijing to Zhangjiakou will be just 50 minutes and the high speed service will be free of charge for all accredited Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games client groups, ticket-holding spectators and the extensive Games-time workforce. Vitally, travel time from the Olympic Village to any Olympic venue in each of the zones will be within just five to 15 minutes to ensure the maximum convenience for athletes and help them perform to their best.

Multiple motorways, an extensive green public transport system and one of the major airports hubs in Asia all combine to create an integrated transport plan that would provide excellent connectivity, punctuality, reliability and flexibility in the run up to and during the Games.

During the day, Beijing 2022 underlined China's long experience in delivering state-of-the-art media facilities and managing complex media and broadcast operations for large international sports events, including the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Bid Committee explained how they will fully utilize this experience for the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games, helping fans all over the world to enjoy the Games and feel part of the Chinese New Year Spring Festival celebration, which falls during the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

The Evaluation Commission heard plans to host both the International Broadcast Center (IBC) and Main Press Center (MPC) within the China National Convention Center (CNCC), which was the IBC for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Without the need for additional construction or alteration, the CNCC already fully meets the IOC's space and technical requirements, including the broadcast compound and satellite farm. It has a large number of experienced staff who worked on previous Games and other major international events. The reporters who had the opportunity to work at the Beijing 2008 Games remember the CNCC's convenient central location, within just a five-minute walk from all venues in the Olympic Green.

Yanqing and Zhangjiakou will feature their own dedicated Mountain Media Centres, environmentally-friendly temporary facilities that will be dismantled and removed after the Games. Both centers will be located within a walking distance from the venues.

"Beijing 2022 will offer excellent and diverse media accommodation options adjacent to the venues and the media centres in mountain and city locations for all budgets and needs. The select media hotels are ideally located and perfectly integrated with the media and public transport systems to provide the media an easy and pleasant overall games and work experience," said Xu Jicheng, Deputy Director of Communications of the Beijing 2022 Bid Committee.

Xiang Ping concluded: "With the renowned Chinese hospitality, world-famous cuisine and splendid entertainment, combining cultural, historical and natural experiences, Beijing 2022 offers an all-inclusive proposition. Beijing 2022 would be a truly joyful Games experience for all participants and visitors - with winter sports at its core, spiced with virtually unlimited, world-class entertainment, shopping and hospitality options, as well as cultural and sport activities."

In the afternoon, the IOC Evaluation Commission delegates visited proposed sites and venues in Yanqing, which would host alpine skiing, luge, bobsleigh and skeleton events.