China’s sports authorities are pondering whether to make a bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics in the city of Harbin.
The capital city of the north-east Heilongjiang province will host the 2009 Winter Universiade in February and officials have revealed the event is a test of China’s ability to host a winter Games.
"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,” Li Zhanshu, governor of Heilongjiang province, told the China Daily.
"We are considering a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, although the decision has to be approved by Chinese sports authorities.”
August’s summer Games in Beijing were widely praised as the best yet.
Li hopes to replicate that in winter in Harbin, if not in 2018, then in 2022, and Chinese officials will visit 2010 hosts Vancouver in Canada and the Russian city of Sochi, the 2014 hosts, to learn from their experience.
"One of the important goals of bidding for a Winter Universiade is to accumulate experience for hosting a Winter Olympics,” added Li.
"The infrastructure here in Harbin has already been qualified for the Winter Universiade, which has the second largest number of winter sports following the Winter Olympics.
"We will continue to improve our weak points according to the feedback from Universiade participants and visit Vancouver and Sochi to learn more.
"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.”
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