On July 31, during the 128th Session of the International Olympic Committee held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, IOC President Thomas Bach announced that Beijing, China, had been awarded the right to host the 24th Winter Olympics in 2022. With this decision, Beijing also made history as the first city ever to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Games.
"Beijing Welcomes You" will once again resonate across the skies of Beijing. What changes will hosting the Winter Olympic Games bring to the city? And how will this event impact not only Beijing residents but people across the entire country?1. No more smog in our daily livesSmog frequently visits Beijing, leaving people both alarmed and helpless. Although PM2.5 levels have dropped by 45% over the past decade, the health risks to humans remain extremely significant.
Smog will be completely brought under control, no longer becoming Beijing residents’ "thorn in the side." Perhaps, years from now, when Beijingers recall smog, they’ll have to pause for a long moment before finally piecing together what it once looked like.
Beijing's smog is extremely severe, and people living in Beijing can certainly feel it firsthand.
In the winter of 2014, Beijing experienced over 100 days of smog—a record-breaking figure—leaving residents both frustrated and resigned to the situation.
It’s no wonder, then, that during a press conference announcing Beijing’s bid for the Winter Olympics, a reporter asked whether Beijing’s smog would affect the athletes and how the city planned to tackle the pollution. In response, Mayor Wang Anshun explained that Beijing is currently developing a Clean Air Action Plan for 2018–2022. Drawing on the unique patterns of air circulation, the city is implementing coordinated, collaborative, and joint measures across all provinces, regions, and municipalities surrounding Beijing—aiming to significantly improve air quality. "By that time," he assured, "the smog issue will definitely be resolved."
Fortunately, Beijing's PM2.5 levels have dropped by 45% over the past decade. It seems that with a little more patience—just a few years left—the smog will finally bid farewell to Beijing residents, which is truly exciting to imagine.2. Beijing-Zhangjiakou Expressway OpensFrom Beijing to Zhangjiakou, the fastest train journey takes at least 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Zhangjiakou has become Beijing’s latest “back garden,” giving Beijing residents yet another exciting new destination to explore. Of course, increased exchanges—ranging from commerce to other areas—will undoubtedly benefit people in both cities.
Zhangjiakou is rich in resources, yet due to inconvenient transportation, these assets have remained entirely undeveloped. This not only deprives Beijing residents of the chance to "enjoy" what the region has to offer—but also causes the people of Zhangjiakou to miss out on a golden opportunity for growth and development.
However, there’s some great news: according to the plan, the high-speed railway connecting Beijing and Zhangjiakou is set to be completed around 2019. Once finished, travel time between Beijing and Zhangjiakou will be reduced to just 50 minutes. By then, the high-speed train will take 20 minutes to travel from Beijing’s urban competition zone to Yanqing, and an additional 30 minutes from Yanqing to Zhangjiakou’s competition zone.
In addition to taking the high-speed rail, several other transportation options are available between the three competition zones in Beijing, Yanqing, and Zhangjiakou. For instance, you can drive directly to all three zones via the existing Jingzang (G6) and Jingxin (G7) highways. Meanwhile, the newly constructed "Xingyan Expressway" is scheduled to be completed in 2019. Another existing route, Yancong Road, will undergo an upgrade and expansion project, reducing the driving time from Yanqing to Chongli in Zhangjiakou to approximately just 1 hour.
In addition to the opening of the new high-speed railway, the new airport has also become operational simultaneously. This has significantly enhanced Beijing's connectivity with the rest of the world, making it easier for international guests to attend the Winter Olympics and deepening their understanding of both Beijing and Zhangjiakou.3. Boosting Ice and Snow SportsFor many Beijing residents, winter sports feel as elusive and unattainable as a "rare flower on a high mountain"—some haven’t even heard of them.
More and more Beijing residents are becoming familiar with—and even falling in love with—winter sports, which have now become a popular recreational activity for the general public.
In winter, many Beijing residents end up cooped up at home—let alone thinking about winter sports; even jogging feels too much like a chore to bother with.
Beijing’s successful bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics will provide its citizens with more opportunities to discover and embrace ice and snow sports—activities that were once relatively unfamiliar to them. By watching the competitions, Beijing residents will not only enjoy the thrill of these sports but also develop a deeper appreciation for their unique appeal. Meanwhile, both the government and businesses will prioritize the development of ice and snow sports facilities, ensuring that winter sports "take root and flourish" across the city.
Beijing mentioned in its bid report that the successful hosting of the Winter Olympics will inspire hundreds of millions of people to take up ice and snow sports. This not only plays a vital role in promoting the Olympic spirit but also encourages countless Beijing residents to fall in love with winter sports. Yes, it absolutely will!4. Lifestyle is being transformedLatest data reveals that fewer than 2% of Beijing residents engage in physical exercise even once a week—let alone those who work out daily, whose numbers are incredibly low. Neglecting exercise while focusing solely on work has become a "habitual shortcoming" among Beijing’s population.
No matter how busy you are, make time for physical exercise—create a solid workout plan and make fitness an essential part of your daily life.
Just as with the 2008 Olympics, hosting the Winter Olympics will draw significant attention from both the Chinese people and the global community. Beyond the joy of the grand event, participants and spectators alike will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the core principles of sportsmanship.
Of course, more importantly, the process of bidding for the Winter Olympics will also bring subtle yet meaningful changes to people's daily lives. In the future, you’ll see more and more people gracefully dancing in Beijing’s streets, alleys, and community squares.
"The promotion of winter sports encourages more people to connect with nature and develop a habit of regular physical activity. Meanwhile, public awareness about environmental protection has grown—yet improving our environment requires not only government initiatives but also active participation from everyone. Let’s all take concrete steps to make a real difference!"
"Between economic development and ecological civilization, there will be many new explorations and groundbreaking achievements, making our home greener, more sustainable, and environmentally friendly," said a sports enthusiast—words that perfectly capture the spirit of Beijing.
5. More job opportunitiesAlthough Beijing offers numerous job opportunities, it still struggles to meet everyone's employment needs. Many college graduates find themselves unemployed immediately after graduation, while on the other hand, many older workers who lose their jobs often face significant challenges in finding new opportunities in the workforce.
Thanks to the venue recommendations for the Winter Olympics and the boost from the sports-related economic impact, various industries will experience new growth—effectively drawing more and more people into a wide range of job opportunities.
To put it bluntly, hosting the Winter Olympics will create a wealth of job opportunities for the public.
The successful bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics will undoubtedly boost the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cultural and tourism corridor, aligning perfectly with China’s ongoing strategy for coordinated development in the region. This initiative is expected to create approximately 600,000 jobs across industries such as sports, culture, and leisure tourism.
It’s almost mind-boggling to think about—so many industries are pivoting around the Winter Olympics infrastructure, and in turn, the Games are bringing a stellar reputation that’s attracting even more domestic and international companies to set up shop in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. As a result, job opportunities will only continue to grow.6. Cultivating the Youth "Reserve Force"It's rare to see young children truly connect with sports; instead, most Beijing kids are sent to school for their nine years of compulsory education. When children show an interest in sports, it’s often dismissed as "not focusing on the right path."
In Beijing, both schools and government departments place great emphasis on the development of youth sports, consistently treating the cultivation of the next generation of athletes as a long-term priority.
There are still several years until the Winter Olympics, but during this time, building a "reserve pool" of young athletes has become a shared consensus among everyone. As a result, many schools in Beijing are increasingly emphasizing the importance of sports. So, it won’t be long before your little one likely finds themselves closely connected to sports and athletic events—before you know it!
It’s worth noting that hosting the Winter Olympics in China will allow young people to experience the magic of sports in a more direct and immersive way. Getting up close with Olympic champions and other outstanding athletes is sure to ignite their passion for sports and inspire their dreams, planting the seeds of athletic ambition in their hearts.
Soon, more and more parents will undoubtedly enroll their children in sports training schools, hoping they’ll make significant strides in their athletic journeys. This growing trend among young people will help cultivate a larger pool of talent for China’s ice and snow sports programs, ultimately boosting competitive performance even further.
So, let’s cheer for your baby from now on!7. A cleaner, healthier environmentAccording to media reports, many people are now expressing significant dissatisfaction with the environmental conditions at the junction of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. The area has effectively become a "three-way no-man's-land," with garbage strewn everywhere and an extremely poor environmental state—completely neglected and ignored by authorities.
The government is providing both funding and strategies to improve the environment, which will steadily enhance public awareness of environmental protection—and consequently lead to increasingly higher expectations for cleanliness and hygiene in our daily surroundings.
However, taking advantage of the Winter Olympics as a catalyst, all these unfavorable environmental pollution incidents will soon see improvement.
For instance, to further enhance the overall environmental quality of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Zhangjiakou City’s Majiawan Landfill will be upgraded and transformed into a circular economy park dedicated to solid waste management. Meanwhile, the Yaojiafen, Xiayuanyuan, Huailai County, and Zhuolu landfills will undergo upgrades to become integrated treatment facilities, while the Chongli County landfill will be closed altogether.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, the same intensified efforts to tackle environmental challenges are gaining momentum—those familiar "gray and muddy" roads and trucks littered with waste everywhere will soon be a thing of the past...
In short, Beijing and Zhangjiakou are working hand in hand to create a clean and pristine competition environment. Meanwhile, residents across the cities will also reap the benefits of improved sanitation as this "winter" breeze sweeps through.8. Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Accelerates IntegrationThe integrated development of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei is steadily moving toward realization—but due to numerous existing obstacles, each step forward in this integration process remains incredibly challenging.
The coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei has moved beyond mere slogans—it’s now a tangible policy being actively implemented for people’s benefit. Beyond the shrinking transportation network, collaborations across various sectors of commerce are also accelerating rapidly.
Currently, various forms of cooperation between Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei are officially "getting underway." For instance, many large wholesale markets in Beijing—such as the animal wholesale market and the Dahongmen Market—are beginning to relocate to different areas across Hebei Province. Meanwhile, for this year's Winter Olympics, Beijing is taking the lead, with Zhangjiakou closely following suit.
This is seen as the beginning of a truly win-win situation… Beijing is making efficient use of its existing infrastructure while simultaneously boosting development in Zhangjiakou. As Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei accelerate their integration, the benefits are being shared by residents across all three provinces.
Thanks to this collaboration, we believe the governments of the three provinces are increasingly recognizing the benefits of working together. As a result, the interests of the public will receive even greater attention and be more effectively implemented—for instance, the recently hotly debated issue of eliminating mobile roaming charges across the three provinces has already delivered tangible advantages to residents. Moving forward, we can expect even more "people-friendly policies" like these in the future.9. Make full use of the sports venues after the eventAlthough Beijing has plenty of sports venues, many are small in scale and their equipment is mostly outdated, failing to spark citizens' interest in sports.
The internationally renowned sports venues have been preserved, allowing Beijing residents to easily enjoy top-notch sports facilities right at their doorstep.
After the Winter Olympics conclude, the venues will remain intact. This is fantastic news for everyone, as these facilities are incredibly valuable and can be enjoyed by every citizen.
The competition venues for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are distributed across three zones: Beijing, Zhangjiakou, and Yanqing, which will facilitate post-Games utilization. Many of these venues are set to become popular spots for public recreation and fitness activities in the future.
For instance, the newly built short-track speed skating venue in Beijing’s competition zone will become the city’s first year-round, non-stop ice sports facility. Near Yanqing’s alpine skiing venue, a new ski school will be constructed, and after the Winter Olympics, a family-friendly amusement park will be established on the nearby, gentler slopes. Meanwhile, the bobsleigh and luge tracks will also undergo redevelopment and reopen to the public following the Games.In short, all the post-match venues will become a valuable asset for Beijing residents, allowing people to easily step outside and engage in a variety of sports—such as running, high jumping, and swimming—right at their doorstep.
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