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SCIO press conference on latest progress of 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games preparations and updates on Yanqing and Zhangjiakou competition zones

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Southern Metropolis Daily:

The upcoming Winter Olympics has triggered increasing popularity for ice and snow tourism. So, my question is: How will Zhangjiakou integrate sports into the city and take the opportunity of the Winter Olympics to increase its influence?

Zhao Wenfeng:

I will answer this question. Thanks for your attention to Zhangjiakou. As we all know, with Beijing 2022 approaching, Zhangjiakou's ice and snow tourism brand is becoming more and more popular. In 2018, Zhangjiakou was listed as one of the top 10 ice and snow tourism cities in China. More specifically, Chongli District was rated a potential area for ice and snow tourism investment and was selected by the New York Times as one of the 52 global destinations worth visiting in 2019. Likewise, at the beginning of this year, Zhangjiakou was awarded the "2020 Chinese Winter Tourism City Case," and as recently as a few days ago, Taiwoo Resort Village was named the national sports tourism demonstration base. With the city's increasing popularity, more and more tourists are visiting Zhangjiakou to experience its winter scenery and realize their passion for ice and snow. During the 2020-2021 snow season, Zhangjiakou received 2.462 million tourists.

"The Olympic Games are brilliant because of the city, and the city is better because of the Olympic Games." Since successfully bidding for the Winter Olympics, ice and snow sports have gradually enjoyed a larger place in the public consciousness. With nine comprehensive ski resorts in the city, continuous improvements being made to relevant sporting facilities, an increasingly robust ice and snow sports education and training system, and the promotion and popularization of ice and snow sports in the city have achieved steady progress. Zhangjiakou has seen five million people participating in snow and ice sports so far, and the number is expected to reach 5.5 million by 2025. In terms of the ice and snow industry, we adhere to the notion that "ice and snow are also invaluable assets" to promote the development of the entirety of the ice and snow industry. At present, many world-famous ice and snow equipment manufacturers such as TechnoAlpin of Italy and MND of France have "settled" in Zhangjiakou and gone into operation. It is expected that by 2025, the city will introduce and cultivate more than 80 ice and snow equipment manufacturing enterprises.

In the post-Winter Olympics era, we will fully implement the plan to sustainably utilize the Winter Olympic legacy, seize the opportunity and take advantage of the situation.

First, promoting the sustainable utilization of venues and supporting facilities after the Games. We will study and formulate unique plans, clarify business operations, combine the utilization of venues after the Games with the overall development of the competition area, and maximize the advantages of transportation, location and facilities in Taizicheng area where the venues are located. We will also vigorously develop the economies of the event, exhibition and research, and build the core area of the Winter Olympic Games into an important base for sports, culture, science and technology, as well as business exchanges at home and abroad. We will ensure that the Olympic Games are wonderful and that the venues are functional, operable and sustainable after the Games.

Second, speeding up the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou sports cultural tourism belt. We will adhere to the driving strategy of sports, culture and tourism, formulate and implement the Construction Plan of Beijing–Zhangjiakou Sports Cultural Tourism Belt, accelerate the development of sports cultural tourism brand products, major projects and diversified business forms, and focus on building tourism products such as Chongli International Ice and Snow Tourism Resort, Yanhuai River Valley Grape Health Tourism Area and grass skyline leisure drive tourism area. We will also accelerate the construction of a sports cultural tourism industry chain that reflects the spirit of Zhangjiakou, and strive to build an international ice and snow sports and leisure tourism resort.

The third is to proactively improve the quality of the city of Zhangjiakou. Focusing on shaping the characteristics of a Winter Olympic city, we will build a number of urban infrastructure and public service facilities that meet international standards, construct a number of landmark urban architectural communities that reflect the Olympic cultural style and build a number of blocks with characteristics of an Olympic city. We will promote the leapfrog improvement of urban construction, management and service level, and build a Winter Olympic city brand with international influence. Thank you.