Ice hockey lovers take part in training at a rink in Zhangjiakou economic development zone in Zhangjiakou, North China's Hebei province, Dec 12, 2020. In recent years, Zhangjiakou has acted to promote ice and snow sports, upgrade its ice and snow sports facilities and strengthen related industries, in a bid to attract more and more people to join various sports. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's plan to develop into a sports powerhouse and ongoing preparations for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics were hot topics at last week's annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Members of the National Committee of the CPPCC and deputies to the 13th NPC stressed the importance of expanding areas for physical exercise and achieving the well-rounded and coordinated development of youth sports, competitive sports and the sports industry.

"Places for enjoying physical exercise are required in communities, schools, and other public areas to cater to different groups, including children, the elderly and those with disabilities," said Yang Yang, China's first-ever Winter Olympic champion.

Chen Jing, an advocate of the traditional Chinese health-preserving method "five-animal play", aka wuqinxi, called for efforts to build"15-minute physical exercise circles".Under this system, facilities would be accessible by communities within 15 minutes.

Unveiled on March 5, the draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national economic and social development and the long-term objectives through 2035 also underscored the importance of providing physical exercise facilities, including school venues, walking paths and sports-oriented parks.

The draft outline also paid attention to ensuring enough time for physical education and extracurricular exercise.

Chen is concerned that distractions such as cellphones are unhealthy for kids.

"How can we develop children's sports development if they always play on their cellphones after going back home?" she said.

Former speed skater Yang Yang said that athletes can play an important role in fostering teenagers' exercise habits.

She envisions that as China develops into a sports powerhouse, the glamor and allure of competitive action can encourage a wide group of sports fans, especially among teenagers.

"After feeling the joy, they will embrace these sports, which can bolster the development of the industry," Yang Yang said.

For members and deputies of the two sessions, one defining characteristic of a sports powerhouse is that the sports industry becomes a vigorous factor in the country's economic development.

"The sports industry has great potential. China is the world's second-largest economy, and the sports industry has much space for development," said CPPCC member Xie Shuangcheng.

Apart from expanding sports-related consumption, the draft outline also included plans to advance the industry's service sector.

Yang Shu'an, vice-president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG), said that sports have a unique advantage in expanding domestic demand.

Yang, also vice-president of the Chinese Olympic Committee, cited Beijing 2022 as an example. She said that with the Games approaching, more people are traveling to Zhangjiakou, Hebei province for skiing, thus spurring consumption in many areas such as accommodation, catering and transportation.

Yang Yang noted that emerging Chinese sports brands "boost our confidence and pride, also contributing to the nation's economic development".

'Safe and smooth' Games

The country's preparations for the Winter Olympics also featured prominently at the two sessions.

"We will fully implement the decisions of the central government. And we will work with all parties to overcome difficulties to ensure the safe and smooth hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics as scheduled," said Zhang Jiandong, the executive vice-president of BOCOG.

With less than a year to go before Beijing 2022, all 12 competition venues have been completed, with preparation work now in the home stretch. Relevant departments are also working together to formulate epidemic prevention and control procedures for the Games.

"China is still under great pressure to prevent imported cases," said Zhang. "It is a big challenge to host a smooth Winter Olympics."

An international working group on epidemic prevention and control has been established by BOCOG, the International Olympic Committee and the World Health Organization.

Yang Yang suggested that a scientific and safety-based policy to allow "international exchanges and the arrival of technical personnel to Beijing" be implemented.

"We will go all out to host a successful Winter Olympics and provide athletes from around the world a chance to realize their dreams," said Yang Yang. "The organizing committee has several well-planned anti-epidemic measures in place, and we are confident that the 2022 Winter Games will go ahead as scheduled."

Wang Yanxia, deputy director of BOCOG's sports department, said: "BOCOG will strictly abide by Beijing's epidemic prevention regulations and coordinate the entry of 180 urgently needed foreigners on the basis of prevention and control of the epidemic."

In addition to venue construction and COVID-19 protocols, a high-speed railway and an expressway connecting Beijing and co-host Zhangjiakou are now operational, slashing commuting times between the two cities.

CPPCC member Shen Jin proposed establishing Beijing-Zhangjiakou demonstration zones of sports leisure and tourism at national level, which would further integrate resources and help realize the goals of engaging 300 million people in winter sports and building China into a sports powerhouse.

During the preparation process for the Winter Olympics, Beijing and Zhangjiakou have cooperated in areas such as transportation, ecology and public services, showing local people how the economic value of ice and snow can be harnessed.