In one year from now -- the International Olympic Committee will decide on the host city of the 2022 Winter Olympics. The joint bid of Beijing and Zhangjiakou is one of three finalists, along with Oslo, Norway and Almaty, Kazakhstan.
With the countdown on to sway voters, the Chinese bid team is trying to bring in some big names to helps its candidacy -- and that includes speed skater Zhang Hong, who won gold at the Sochi games in the 1000 metres.
Officials from the Chinese Winter Sports Administration expressed their hopes for Beijing, on the eve of the one-year countdown to the election, which will be held July 31st next year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is there that IOC Officials will choose between the three candidates.
The Chinese capital is the only one to have hosted an Olympics, as it was the site of the 2008 Summer Games. China is not known as winter sporting nation, but many believe that a successful bid can change that.
Zhang Hong, the gold medal winner in the 1000 metres speed skating event at the 2014 Sochi Games, is regarded as the flag-holder of Chinese Winter Sports, and her medal is looked at as a milestone in China's speed skating history.
"First of all, I really hope Beijing and Zhangjiakou can have a successful bid," Zhang Hong said.
"As you know, I won the first gold for China's speed skating team at the Sochi Olympics and I believe this was due to the help of many people. I believe we will achieve our goal in the bidding process because so many people in our country, are putting in great efforts. I am now training very hard for the Pyeongchang Winter Games, and I will continue to put in my effort to help the development of speed skating in China."
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