More Chinese can benefit from the 2022 Winter Olympic Games and enjoy the dividend of China's economic reforms, said a senior sports official on Thursday.
Wei Jizhong, honorary president of the International Federation de Volleyball (FIVB) and consultant of Beijing 2022 bid committee, told Xinhua that compared with the 2008 Summer Olympics which has gifted the Chinese capital plenty of legacies, the 2022 Winter Games is a good opportunity for a larger area than Beijing.
"Beijing 2022 has proposed to make full use of the 2008 legacies, including stadiums, which complies with the IOC's concept of sustainability," said Wei.
"This time around neighboring areas such as co-bidder Zhangjiakou can receive more benefit," he added.
Zhangjiakou's Chongli county, where some 50 gold medals will be contested in skiing events in 2022, has been lifted up the poverty-line since Beijing announced its co-bid at the end of 2013.
Skiing fans from Beijing and other parts of the country flock to the formerly unknown small county which jumped into the limelight following the bid.
"In my opinion, the momentum behind the Beijing 2022 bid is quite different from that behind the 2008 Summer Games," Wei said.
"In 2001, we were hoping the Games can boost our reforms. This time around, the Games will be held at the time when the Chinese are expected to lead a well-off life. The 2022 Winter Olympics helps more Chinese enjoy dividend of our reform," he added.
