China is working steadily towards its goal to host the Winter Olympics in 2022. The International Olympics Committee's Evaluation Commission has arrived in Beijing for a 5-day inspection visit. The Commission will be presented with the plans of the joint bid by Beijing and Zhangjiakou, and tour the proposed venues and sites.

Once again, setting sights on the Olympic dream. There's a lot to expect from Beijing's Winter Olympics bid. "Olympic Blue" is one thing.

"We have taken the toughest measures to combat air pollution. A total of 760 billion yuan will be put into the efforts. It's not only for the bid, it's for the people in the city to breathe cleaner air," said Wang Hui, Spokeswoman of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games Bid Committee.

China competed at its first Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid, New York, in 1980. It won its first gold medal at Salt Lake City in 2002 when Yang Yang broke the women's 5-hundred meter Speed Skating world record. At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, three more gold medals were added to the tally.

"We hope we can succeed with the bid. The bid will help popularise winter sports. With more people being interested, winter sports in China will have a better future," former Olympic gold medalist Yang Yang said.

Most of China's medals came on the ice rather than on the slopes. But, with the Olympic bid, skiiing has never been more popular.

China has come a long way in promoting winter sports in the country. And following the success of the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, a successful bid for the 2022 Winter Games would help to keep the momentum going.

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