Following a successful Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China is considering a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Harbin reports state media.
Called the “ice city”, Harbin, the capital of northeastern Heilongjiang province, reportedly spent three billion yuan on venues and facilities to host the World University Winter Games in February and would use the event as a dry run, said the province’s governor Li Zhanshu.
He told the China Daily, “if the hosting of the 2009 Winter Universiade can win applause from all the guests it will enhance our confidence to bid for the Winter Olympic Games”.
Harbin failed to make the short list for the 2010 Winter Games.
Li said, “if we fail again for the 2018 Games we are determined to win the 2022 Winter Games. It’s our dream to host China’s first Winter Olympics”.
He added the final sign-off for the bid would come from China’s sports ministry.