2008 Olympics legacy teaches Beijing how to cut back on 2022 cost

Beijing has vowed to deliver an economical 2022 Winter Olympics should it win the bid.

Wang Anshun, Beijing mayor and president of the 2022 Committee, said the Chinese capital will draw a meticulous budget to lower costs, reports Xinhua.

Based on the Agenda 2020 reforms of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Beijing presents three concepts in bid -- running athletes-centred Games, ensuring sustainable development and hosting economical Games.

"Beijing will lower the cost of staging the Games through thorough marketing, proper arrangement of venues and activities on the condition that the Games can be delivered successfully," said Wang.

The legacy from the 2008 Games play an important role in hosting an economical Games.

"The legacy of the Beijing 2008 Olympics is the biggest advantage for the 2022 bid," said National People's Congress member Yang Xiaochao.

Out of the 12 competition and non-competition venues here, 11 are existing, inherited from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The 'Water Cube' Aquatic Centre and National Indoor Stadium are planned for hosting ice sports, including figure skating, short track speed skating, ice hockey and curling, while the Bird's Nest will hold the opening and closing ceremonies.

New venues are planned to hold events like speedskating, biathlon, cross-country skiing and alpine skiing. They will become training bases, competition venues and be open to winter sports fans. The Olympic and media villages will turn into hotels and condominiums.

"In the very beginning, Beijing has had scientific planning for the Olympic legacy. The 2022 Games legacy will fit in the long-term project of the area," said Wang.

Apart from the venues, the experience of holding the 2008 Olympics and a series of international competitions will also help Beijing save time and money in holding another Games.

Wang stressed on the importance of sustainable development, saying: "To host an economical Games we must ensure sustainable development."

Beijing views the Olympic Winter Games not only as a significant international sports event but also a valuable opportunity to speed up the development of host cities, the region around them and even the country.

Beijing 2022 has been included in the National Strategy of Integrated and Coordinated Development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the long-term regional development plans.

City development will provide strong backing for hosting the Winter Olympics. Changes have already taken place in Chongli, a small county about 200 kilometres from here. Chongli, famous for modern ski resorts, has attracted more than three million people to go skiing last season, including visitors from Asia, Europe and America.