Winter Games bid fires public's imagination

Beijing's bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics has driven public enthusiasm for winter sports to new heights, boosting the business of outdoor rinks and snow carnivals in the capital.

With most of the giant stadiums in North China sitting idle in winter, 2008 Olympic venues in Beijing such as the landmark Bird's Nest stadium are filled with crowds enjoying winter sports activities, thanks to the publicity surrounding Beijing's 2022 Winter Olympics bid.

At the Bird's Nest stadium, officially known as the National Stadium, more than 3,000 visitors attended the first day of the sixth Happy Ice and Snow Carnival on Jan 10 to enjoy 11 kinds of winter sports recreation, including skating, skiing and children's sledding.