Shou Xiaoli:
Now for the last question.
Wenweipo:
In its bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, China pledged to get 300 million people involved in winter sports. How has the popularization of winter sports in China progressed? Thank you.
Li Yingchuan:
Thank you for your question. Getting 300 million people involved in winter sports is a promise made by General Secretary Xi Jinping on behalf of the Chinese government. It has always been of great concern. As a country with a vast territory and diverse natural conditions, winter sports have been carried out mainly in the areas with abundant snow and ice resources, such as northeastern, northern, and northwestern China. After the successful bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, all parts of the country have carried out a set of public winter sports in line with local conditions under the goal of getting 300 million people involved in winter sports set by General Secretary Xi Jinping. The northern parts of China have a long tradition of winter sports and abundant snow resources, while southern China has a lack of snow and ice. However, with the development in the economy, society, and science and technologies, the increasingly mature ice-making technology has allowed winter sports to go nationwide. For example, with the booming development of indoor ice sports in some southern cities. Noticeably, ecological snow-making technologies have prompted the construction of outdoor ski resorts in southern cities and regions with favorable conditions. For example, there are numerous indoor ice rinks in Hainan province. Additionally, many places have adopted new technologies, new materials and new skills, represented by VR, AR, dry ski slopes, liquid synthetic ice, inflatable domes, detachable devices and so on. It's fair to say that more and more citizens have stepped onto ice rinks and entered ski resorts, and are fully enjoying the health benefits and joy brought by winter sports.
Winter sports have become leisurely and fashionable sports among the public, especially young people. They have also become a lifestyle for Chinese families. Therefore, those involved in winter sports are spread all over the country. Despite the vigorous development, our industrial foundation is still vulnerable compared to countries traditionally associated with winter sports. However, as the world's second largest economy, China has made noticeable achievements in its technological strength and innovative capacity. Therefore, China's comprehensive strength is fully capable of supporting the leapfrog development of winter sports. Concentrating on the goal of getting 300 million people involved in winter sports, from the central government to local governments, the country has formed a pattern featuring joint participation among multiple departments and synergetic development among the whole of society. We believe that under the joint efforts of people from all walks of life, we are fully capable of achieving the goal of getting 300 million people involved in winter sports, delivering the development fruits of winter sports to the public, and making active contributions to the development of international Olympic sports. Thank you.
Shou Xiaoli:
The SCIO will hold a series of press conferences on the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. We welcome all friends from the media to participate in them. That is all for today's press conference. Thank you to the spokespersons and friends from the media. Goodbye.
Translated and edited by Zhang Liying, Wang Qian, Zhu Bochen, Ma Yujia, Duan Yaying, Li Huiru, Zhang Junmian, Zheng Chengqiong, Huang Shan, He Shan, Qin Qi, Xu Xiaoxuan, Yuan Fang, Dong Qingpei, David Ball, Drew Pittock, and Tom Arnstein. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
