Beijing 2022: Chinese capital shows its versatile side
Beijing 2022, which saw the Chinese capital become the very first city to host both the Olympic Summer and Winter Games, prioritised the creation of long-term legacies benefitting the city and host regions and their communities, including greater public participation in winter sports across China.
Since 2015, 346 million Chinese people have taken part in winter sports, an achievement made possible by a multi-faceted long-term national strategy that included the organisation of mass-participation events, the construction of ice- and snow-sports facilities, the training of winter sports instructors, and the inclusion of winter sports on school curricula.
Participation has also been boosted by the founding of more local and regional competitions and winter sports clubs across the country, while several competition venues used at Beijing 2008 have been repurposed for winter sports, creating yet more opportunities for people to engage in ice and snow pursuits. Initiatives such as the Ice Rinks Programme have also played a part, with China now approaching its target of building nearly 1,000 such venues in more than 100 cities nationwide.
As a result, more jobs have been created, including 29,000 sports instructors in Beijing alone and indirect jobs in tourism, construction and transport, while the country’s winter tourism industry is also growing. Income from ice and snow tourism exceeded CNY 550 billion in the 2023/24 season, when China’s resorts and venues attracted 400 million visitors. By 2030, its ice and snow economy is forecast to reach CNY 1.5 trillion (USD 208.4 billion).
The Beijing 2022 Olympic Education Programme sought to promote the Olympic and Paralympic ideals, popularise winter sports, and bring about the inclusion of people with disabilities. Its youth engagement and educational initiatives, most of which have continued through to 2025, have inspired young people across the country to learn about the Olympic Games, ensuring a lasting legacy in this area.
Beijing 2022 also provided an opportunity to raise awareness about access to facilities and Para sports, and to promote inclusiveness and break down barriers between people with disabilities and the rest of society. Changes have been made to school curricula to reflect these aims.
The XXIV Olympic Winter Games also led to the creation of new cultural spaces for residents and communities, the continuation of events combining culture and winter sports, and the rolling-out of cultural services for the public.
Meanwhile, the ties between the Olympic Movement and the people of China were further strengthened through volunteering. The platform and system used to recruit volunteers at Beijing 2022 has been maintained and enhanced, standards put in place for the recruitment of volunteers, and volunteer management, training and regulations improved.
The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 contributed to the socio-economic development of what is known as the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Sports, Cultural and Tourism Belt, which comprises the three competition zones: Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou. Transport systems were interconnected and upgraded, with the construction of new roads and high-speed rail links. In addition, industries were developed in conjunction with each other, improvements made to IT networks and infrastructures, and public services shared in the competition zones.
Beijing 2022’s multi-purpose venues all have legacy plans in place, ensuring their post-Games use all year round. Four Beijing 2008 venues were refurbished and upgraded to host winter sports events, helping to reduce carbon emissions, environmental impact, and the consumption of water, energy and materials. A former steel mill, the snowboard/freestyle skiing venue Shougang Big Air was a beacon of reinvention and regeneration, and is now a dynamic sport, recreational and business hub.
All Beijing 2022 activities, from planning through to development and implementation, were ISO 20121 certified in recognition of the event’s sustainability performance. New venues were built in line with sustainable construction standards that covered, for example, water and energy efficiency, building insulation, and natural CO2 refrigeration systems. All venues, both old and new, were powered with renewable energy, with solar and wind providing the primary energy sources.
Beijing 2022 also delivered on the sustainability recommendations made in Olympic Agenda 2020, with carbon neutrality and environmental protection the key focal points.