Despite Strong Bid, Beijing Lacks Winter Sports Passion

(ATR) Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium was the unlikely setting for an FIS freestyle skiing aerials event launching this past winter’s tour. It seemed like an ideal promotion for Beijing 2022 organizers to entertain burgeoning winter sports fans in their quest to win the Winter Games.

Scaffolding was erected. Slopes and kickers were created. Snow was hauled in. With Chinese aerialists as the most talented, highest flyers in the world, the Dec. 20-21 weekend appeared to be a can’t miss spectacle. The first-ever team event was also scheduled with the home nation as an overwhelming favorite.

Chinese aerialists did not disappoint, flipping and twisting to victory in every event. However, fans did not show up. Perhaps a few thousand at best attended in a stadium with a seating capacity of 80,000 in a city of 21 million.

With the selection of the host for the 2022 Winter Games city just over four months away, I was in Beijing last week, coinciding with the IOC Evaluation Commission inspection.

Eager to witness firsthand this burgeoning winter sports spirit along with China’s great initiative to involve 300 million citizens on the road to 2022, I even packed my ski boots.

The development of the National Alpine Skiing Center in Yanqing is an intriguing project considering China’s lack of ski racing experience. I was curious to get a glimpse of the slopes and terrain, even if the massive project is only in the infant stages, and perhaps also catch an ice hockey game in Beijing, whether it involved kids learning the sport or expat club teams.

It is evident that Beijing – with its tremendous success and legacy from 2008 – presents a safe and secure option for the IOC as it vies against lone opponent Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Chinese government has assured the IOC it will meet its promises and evaluation commission leader Alexander Zhukov proclaimed Beijing to be capable and "cold enough" to host the Winter Games.

However, questions remain – will the mega-metropolis truly embrace the winter sports spirit? Is there hope of delivering the charm and ambiance of Winter Games past? Will there be snow?

After a few days at Beijing’s ice venues – most of which were part of the 2008 Games – we made the three-hour journey to Zhangjiakou, the mountain cluster proposed for freestyle skiing, snowboarding and Nordic events. A visit and short run on China’s Great Wall was inspirational and invigorating. One can only imagine what Nordic skiers could experience in 2022, racing along sections of a course in close proximity to the awe-inspiring landmark.

Genting Ski Resort, in the Zhangjiakou cluster, was pleasant and certainly worthy of hosting freestyle and snowboarding competitions. However, snow was scarce. Skiers and boarders were nowhere to be seen. Theoretically, skiing was possible, but not desirable at this time of the season.

Declining snowfall and rising temperatures in recent years would seem to present a problem. However, IOC executive director Christophe Dubi advised that the Chinese will store water in reservoirs to make artificial snow.

It is a stark contrast to ski resorts in Europe, North America and Almaty, where winter can bring loads of natural snow. Two weeks ago, the Kazakh mountains received 30 centimeters of fresh snow, more than Zhangjiakou’s accumulation all season.

Zhukov informed at the wrap-up news conference there that the region is "cold enough" and "everywhere there is sufficient water."

Our return to Beijing did not include a stop in Yanqing. It was advised that the schedule could not be changed.

Instead, we enjoyed a fantastic lunch and wine tasting at a nearby winery. However, it was a missed opportunity to see the future alpine skiing and bobsleigh/luge sites.

In November, FIS officials and revered course designer Bernhard Russi inspected the future ski racing location in Yanqing, approving the minimum FIS requirements. The proposed piste on Xiaohaituo Mountain will begin at 2,140 meters and provide a vertical drop of 830, just over the required 800 meters.

Whether a demanding, technically diverse and thrilling track can be sculpted remains a realistic question. Considering the absence of photos and information provided, one might guess that Russi, the 1972 Olympic downhill champ, might have a monumental challenge ahead.

Upon returning to Beijing, we were greeted by Yanqing representatives to answer questions in lieu of a visit to the growing tourist region and its developing ski areas. An eight-minute promotional video showcased the area’s

natural beauty, calm and ambiance. However, no skiers were shown.

A youth hockey event we were looking forward to that evening was cancelled. It was advised it was due to technical issues with the arena ice resurfacing machine. As it would turn out, the only hockey I saw in Beijing was a livestream of a New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings game in my hotel room.

It should be mentioned that the international media invited to Beijing were treated kindly and like royalty. The Weber Shandwick PR team – in cooperation with Beijing 2022 – went above and beyond the call of duty and a huge thanks is in order.

While Beijing lacks winter sports experience, in recent weeks Shanghai has hosted the ISU Figure Skating World Championships and Yabuli, in China’s northernmost province, was the setting for the FIS Snowboard Junior World

Championships. Both are major steps for winter sport in China.

Popular opinion has Beijing as the frontrunner over Almaty. The city’s proven track record hosting major sports events, driving government support and 2008 legacy cannot be overstated. Again, it is a practical, safe choice.

But is safe necessarily the best?

Skiing well-groomed slopes with minimal incline is certainly a safe way to descend a mountain. On the other hand, skiing untracked powdery slopes, taking calculated risk, and venturing down uncharted terrain can be about as

much winter fun as possible and certainly gratifying when you reach the bottom.

Which slope will the IOC will choose on July 31st?

Written by Brian Pinelli

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