Sports stars applaud effort to host Games

Renowned Chinese winter sports figures hailed the joint bid of Beijing and Zhangjiakou for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games as a strong boost to sports in China, especially in the southern region.

From the first Winter Olympics gold medal claimed by short-track speed skater Yang Yang in 2002 to the three-gold haul at the Sochi Games, Chinese winter sports have been getting stronger, but they still lag behind world powers on ice and snow.

The bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games will put winter sports development on the fast track in China with more public interest and government support, said Yang, now a member of the International Olympic Committee.