Beijing is set to welcome the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Evaluation Commission Monday as the team arrives is China’s capital to review proposed plans and venues for hosting the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

The 19-member IOC Evaluation Commission is chaired by Alexander Zhukov, IOC member and President of the Russian Olympic Committee and comprises three other IOC members including Barry Maister from New Zealand, Adam Pengilly from Great Britain, and Tsunekazu Takeda from Japan, as well as representatives of national and regional Olympic Committees, athletes, experts and representatives of the International Paralympic Committee. The IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi and the IOC Head of Olympic Bid City Coordination Jacqueline Barrett will also join the visit.
Wang Hui, Deputy Secretary-General and Director of Media and Communications of the Beijing 2022 Bid Committee said “while we welcome the delegation of the IOC Evaluation Commission in Beijing, we will demonstrate our desire to host the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and the benefits that Beijing as a host city will bring to the Olympic Movement, in line with the Olympic Agenda 2020 principles.”

“We have prepared for the Evaluation Commission visit in strict compliance with the IOC’s requirements and we are working hard to leave a good impression on the Evaluation Commission.”
The five day schedule will begin Tuesday with meetings at the Intercontinental Beijing Beichen Hotel and visits to 19 venues and facilities and transportation infrastructure. The teams will wrap up March 28 before Zhukov meets with the media to discuss his team’s impressions of Beijing’s bid.
Beijing plans to use venues left as legacy from the Beijing 2008 Summer Games including the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium for opening and closing ceremonies and the “Water Cube” aquatics facility after converting it to a curling arena. Ski and snow events will be held 200 kilometers away in Zhangjiakou; plans are in the works to link the two clusters with a high speed rail line.
The Evaluation Commission paid a similar visit to Beijing’s bid rival Almaty, Kazakhstan last month and later praised the bid for it’s existing venues and compact venue plan.
Under IOC rules, the Evaluation team will review the Beijing 2022 bid books with the Chinese officials, offering feedback as needed. After the visit, the team will develop a report that will be shared with the other IOC members before they vote for their choice of host at an all-member meeting in Kuala Lumpur July 31.
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