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How Has the Winter Olympics Changed China?

Economic Daily | Updated: February 3, 2022

What can a Winter Olympics bring to the host city and the country? Perhaps, we may get some idea by looking at changes in China over the years. 

First of all, the holding of the Winter Olympics can undoubtedly inject new vitality into China's ice and snow sports. Ice and snow sports have never been China's strength over the years. China first took part in the Winter Olympics in 1980 and did not win any gold medal until 2002. When China began preparing for the Beijing Winter Olympics six years ago, about one-third of the Winter Olympics events had never been carried out, and some events even started from scratch.

After several years' arduous efforts to catch up, China's ice and snow sports have developed remarkably. The Chinese delegation will compete in 96 events, with a record number of 188 seats in Beijing Winter Olympics. China is competitive in such events as short track speed skating, speed skating, figure skating, freestyle skiing, etc. These and some other events will be popular among the Chinese spectators.

The hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics has also changed the global ice and snow sports landscape. Modern ice and snow sports originated in Europe. For a long time before 2015, the number of global winter sports participants grew very slowly, and the ice and snow industry tended to be saturated.

But now, the goal of "engaging 300 million people in ice and snow sports" has been achieved. Ice and snow sports have not only spread to all places across the nation, but are also practiced by people in all four seasons. 

China has shown the world, that with policy guidance, extensive involvement of market players, and active publicity in media, the development of ice and snow sports can be well-integrated with national fitness goals.

The holding of the Winter Olympics is also an important opportunity for an open and confident China to embrace the rest of the world. During the Winter Olympics, The Winter Olympics will become a big stage for China to show itself. China will further integrate with the world, and the world will understand China better.