Beijing praised for its Olympic preparations

The International Olympic Committee says it is “very happy” with Beijing ’s preparations for the 2022 Winter Games amid assurances Tuesday that the main venues will be completed three years before events are held.

Beijing is drawing largely on its success staging the 2008 Summer Olympics and is reusing much of the original infrastructure. Organizers say the main venues and supporting facilities will be in place by the end of 2019.

The chairman of the IOC coordinating committee, Alexander Zhukov, said he has full confidence in Beijing’s ability to successfully hold the Games.

The IOC is “very happy with progress made by Beijing 2022,” Zhukov said Tuesday following a second round of visits to facilities and organizers’ offices.

“This visit has given me full confidence that this mission will be realized and I look forward to being back for our next visit next year.”

Beijing is the first city to have been awarded both the Summer and Winter Olympics. The main skiing and sliding events will be held far from the city because of a lack of snow, although organizers say a high-speed rail line now under construction will keep travel times to a minimum.

Cai Qi, Beijing’s top official and the newly appointed president of the organizing committee, said Chinese President Xi Jinping fully supports the organizing work.

“We will complete the construction of the main venues and infrastructural facilities by the end of 2019,” Cai said.

During the visit, the co-ordination commission visited four sites in Beijing: the new National Speed Skating Oval, the Capital Indoor Stadium, the Wukesong Sports Center that hosted the 2008 men’s basketball events, and the Shougang Industry Park, where the organizing committee is located.

On a visit last year, Zhukov praised Beijing for its “fast start” in preparing for the Games.