With the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games one year away, the construction of competition venues has come to an end. On January 18, President Xi Jinping, while inspecting preparations for the Games, called for advancing the work against difficulties. China is pulling out all the stops to ensure the Games will be a success.

Despite the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, venue construction ran smoothly while adhering to stringent prevention and control measures. A striking feature of the venues is their environmental friendliness. This principle will be honored throughout, from their construction to operation and post-Games utilization.

To hit the green target, new assessment criteria were hammered out based on detailed discussions between Chinese experts and their counterparts from the International Olympic Committee. The innovative set of criteria can be a reference for others.

The Games have sparked a new Chinese interest. After successfully reeling in the bid for hosting the Games, the Chinese Government proposed to encourage some 300 million people to participate in snow sports. Across the country, these sports are sliding full steam ahead. Even in Guangzhou, a city boasting a subtropical climate, pitches filled with artificial snow have sprouted. As they gain popularity, winter sports events are helping increase the public's understanding of the Games as well as the Olympic spirit.

Snow fever is creating a demand for more professionals. Many schools offer training classes on snow sports. Sports venues have brought in professionals to organize workouts. The call for more athletes, coaches and referees is also getting louder .

Snow sports have given a boost to the economy. According to a report released by the China Tourism Academy in January, despite repercussions from the ongoing pandemic, revenues from ice and snow tourism could surpass 390 billion yuan ($60 billion) during the 2020-21 winter season. Right now, there is a big demand for all that is snow sports-related in China. These huge business opportunities are beckoning investors both from home and abroad. 

(Print Edition Title: Snow Fever)