Primary students in Chongli practice skiing in a local snow park on December 10, 2018 (XINHUA)

In July 2015, Beijing won the right to host the XXIV Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2022. Its only competition at the time was Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan. Almaty was bidding for the third time, and with its modern infrastructure and the ability to host all the ice and snow events in one city, it had a good chance of getting the nod.

But Beijing had an ace up its silky sleeve. With a population of more than 20 million, the city far surpasses Almaty, with only 1.6 million residents. And when the count is extended to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the figure rises to 110 million. This proved to be the deciding factor.

As Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, said, Beijing is drawing a perspective - encouraging hundreds of millions of people to get involved in winter sports.

More than four years after winning the bid for the Games, Chongli, a major co-host venue with Beijing, is making this idea a reality by building infrastructure, improving ecological environment and creating awareness campaigns.

More convenient

According to the Chongli Government, 43 billion yuan ($6.3 billion) has been invested in infrastructure there since 2015. Transport systems are the primary beneficiaries, as evidenced by the high-speed rail line connecting Beijing to Chongli going into operation in late 2019, with the first train in the world implementing an automatic driving system at 350 km/h. The line has greatly reduced travel time between the two host sites. Ski enthusiasts and professionals can now leave Beijing with their equipment, which can be stored in a dedicated compartment, and arrive at Taizicheng Station in Chongli less than one hour.

Such convenience is driving many Beijing residents to travel to Chongli on weekends, making the train tickets much sought-after items. "Since the line opened, we have been picking up five to six tourist buses every day from Taizicheng," said Bian Guangchao, General Manager of Sales and Marketing Center of the Genting Ski Resort. Data from the local tourist office show that from December 30, 2019, to January 5, 2020, Chongli welcomed more than 90,000 visitors, an increase of 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Winning the bid for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games also accelerated the modernization of winter sports facilities. In less than five years, the number of ski resorts in Chongli has increased from five to seven, four of which are among the top 10 in the country. The number of ski slopes has doubled, 10 of which have international certification. In addition, four sites, including the Genting Snow Park, were built to host the events.

A ski enthusiast arrives in Chongli by taking Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed train on January 11 (XINHUA)

Attention to ecology

The Olympic Games leave a lasting effect that can profoundly change a community, especially with regard to the environment. Chongli is no exception to this rule.

Before the 1960s, the forest coverage rate in Chongli was around 15 percent. Vast areas devoid of vegetation became sources of ferocious sandstorms, even affecting the Beijing-Tianjin region. But this is no longer the case. A huge reforestation campaign was launched in 2018, with 27,980 hectares of forest being planted. In 2020, the local authorities aim to reach a forest coverage rate of 70 percent.

At the same time, the use of green energy sources is growing, both in manufacturing and daily life. In 2018, the city of Zhangjiakou put 76 electric buses and 74 hydrogen buses into use, becoming the best equipped green energy public transport city in the country. These buses are also known as "mobile air purifiers." In addition, the clean-energy heating area increased by 3.24 million square meters in 2018..

Public enthusiasm

Hosting the Olympic Games is also a good opportunity to promote winter sports to the public. To this end, several activities, such as winter holiday camps and sports competitions, have been organized.

Launched in 2001, the Chongli International Ski Festival has become an annual event known internationally, contributing to the promotion of winter sports and the rapid development of tourism. For its 18th edition, which took place during the 2018-19 ski season, 13 international professional competitions and 60 mass skiing events were held. A total of 191 competitions, including four World Cup matches, are planned for the 2019-20 season, Chongli authorities said.

Particular attention is paid to the promotion of winter sports among the youth. Since March 2014, Olympic sports lessons have been offered once a week in all primary and secondary schools in Chongli. Students are expected to have a deeper understanding of the Olympic Games and winter sports. By 2022, more than 50,000 students are expected to participate in ice and snow sports.

Promotion campaigns have also been launched within public institutions, companies, communities, households and villages. According to an official from the Chongli Sports Bureau, this approach is aimed at attracting the public to ice and snow sports and improving skiing skills among residents. Coupons are also offered, allowing residents to enjoy facilities at nine ski resorts and 99 skating rinks in Zhangjiakou.

On the eve of the Spring Festival, Chongli entered the depths of winter. All rivers were frozen. However, ice and snow have become assets for the district, which is warming up to the growing enthusiasm of the public toward the Olympic Games.

(Comments to lixiaoyu@chinafrica.cn)