CRI听力:Beijing Receives International Support for Bidding for 2022 Winter Olympics

Sochi has impressed the world with the 2014 Winter Olympics. And Russian Vice Sports Minister Yuriy Nagornyh points out that Beijing also has rich experience in hosting international sports events, and adds that this qualifies Beijing for the Winter Olympics in every aspect.

"We've all witnessed the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Beijing is one of the fastest developing cities, as well as an international metropolitan center with a rich sports tradition. Me and my colleagues think Beijing is in complete capability of hosting a successful Winter Olympics."

During 2015 Milan EXPO, The Beijing Week has attracted numerous tourists. Director-general of Italian pavilion at the expo, Stefano Gatti, believes in Beijing's competence as a host city as well.

"Beijing is going to host the 2019 International Horticultural Exposition, after the 2010 Shanghai Expo. Considering the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, plus the fact that Beijing is bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics, it is clear that Beijing is developing a tradition of hosting large-scale international events, it grants Beijing a great advantage in its 2022 Winter Olympics bid."

In this past Spring Festival, Beijing also showed Beverly Hills' citizens in Los Angeles the concept behind the Beijing's bid for 2022 Winter Olympics.

The director of Marketing at Beverly Hill Conference and Visitors Bureau, Julie Wagner, expresses her expectations for Beijing hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics.

"I think the Summer Olympics was the most spectacular Olympics ever, and we are very supportive of the Olympic Games and think Beijing would be a spectacular choice for the Winter Olympics as well."
Living and working in Beijing, Park Jin-Hwan, a Korean Broadcasting System former journalist in Beijing, and also the producer of documentary series Super China, also voices his support.

"I think Beijing 2008 Olympics is the most successful Olympics in history since the 1896 Athens Olympics. Beijing has earned the recognition not only as an economic giant, but as a cultural power as well. Especially for the opening ceremony on 8:08 pm, 8th August, China showed the power of 5000 years of history and civilization."

Chairman of the Los Angeles Special Olympics 2015 Timothy Shriver believes Beijing will host a perfect Winter Olympics.

"You know I don't have a roll of selection, but China has shown it can host world-class events, at the highest possible level. If China is chosen, I know the games would be superb, I have no doubt about that. "

The IOC will announce the host city of 2022 Winter Olympics on Friday.

For CRI, I'm Victor Ning.