BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission Chair Juan Antonio Samaranch says he is very satisfied with preparation work for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
On Wednesday, an IOC delegation travelled to Zhangjiakou and Yanqing to inspect two of the three competition zones for the 2022 Games.
"Everything is going as it is expected to go. That's not always the case. We are very comfortable with the efficiency and delivery that the Beijing organizers are giving us," said Samaranch.
"The venue constructions are going according to plan and even with some advancements to the plan. The venues will be world-class. It's very important to us that the Olympic Games here in 2022 are also designed and defined to serve a large population of Chinese people in many years and decades. It will help China's dream of having 300 million winter sports enthusiasts become reality."
The commission first visited Zhangjiakou and Chongli in Hebei province, about a four-hour drive north of China's capital.
The Halfpipe, Slopestyle and Parallel Giant Slalom courses at Genting Snow Park are completed and have already hosted FIS Alpine Ski World Cup events. The National Ski Jumping, Cross-Country Center and National Biathlon Center are still under construction.
Improved transport links will further aid the Games and the development of the region, as a high-speed rail link from Beijing to Zhangjiakou and Chongli is anticipated to slash travel time to just 50 minutes when it goes into operation by the end of this year.
Located in the northern suburbs of Beijing, more than 70 percent of Yanqing district is mountainous. Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, skeleton and luge events will be held in this zone during the Winter Games.
According to the current schedule, the speed course of the National Alpine Ski Centre in Yanqing is to be ready for test events in October, and other competition venues will be completed by 2020.
