Bid for Winter Games promises blue skies

THE DELEGATION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE has finished its evaluation of the joint bid to host 2022 Winter Olympics by Beijing and Zhangjiakou in Hebei province. In the news conference that followed, Wang Anshun, mayor of Beijing, said that authorities of both cities will make greater efforts to curb air pollution, so that blue skies will be the norm. Comments:

The promise of cleaner air will doubtlessly help Beijing win the bid for 2022 Winter Olympics, but, more importantly, that is in accordance with its promise to residents about a better environment to live in. Experts have predicted that the Chinese capital won't have clear skies until 2030, but China's leaders imply that hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics might help accelerate the schedule.

thediplomat.com (based in Japan), March 25