The Olympic City Development Forum, as part of the World Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo  2020 (WWSE 2020), was held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing on September 6. Themed “Olympic Sports Inheritance: New Perspectives and New Opportunities”, the forum examined new opportunities in the development of the Olympic Movement and the carrying on of the Olympic legacy, and offered advice and suggestions for sustainable development of Olympic cities.

(Han Zirong, Vice President (full time) and Secretary General of the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, makes a speech)

Han Zirong, Vice President (full time) and Secretary General of the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Wang Wei, Vice Chairman of Beijing Olympic City Development Association, Zang Aimin, Executive Deputy President of Qingdao Olympic Sailing City Development Association, Che Jinghua, Director of Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Sports and Chairman of Qingdao Sports Federation, Xie Jun, women's world chess champion and Vice President of the Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, and Rolf Almklov, Commercial Counselor of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing were present at the event. Christophe Dubi, Executive Director of Olympic Games Department of the International Olympic Committee, Günther Platter, Governor of Tyrol, Austria, Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Helsinki, Finland, Pekka Timonen, Mayor of Lahti, Finland, and Gianpietro Ghedina, Mayor of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy shared their experience in the development of Olympic cities, via video speeches, with friends from the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, provinces, cities, organizations, enterprises and media. Fu Xiaohui, Secretary General of Beijing Olympic City Development Association presided over the forum.

(Wang Wei, Vice Chairman of Beijing Olympic City Development Association, addresses the Olympic City Development Forum)

(Fu Xiaohui, Secretary General of Beijing Olympic City Development Association, presides over the forum)

The Olympic City Development Forum this year has received great attention from the International Olympic Committee. Mr. Christophe Dubi made a speech via video. He affirmed China's efforts for the host of the Winter Olympic Games. “The Games cannot be about only a great event for 17 days… The Games should be envisaged, not within seven years of difficult preparation and 17 days of delivery, but how this spirit of seven plus seventeen can contribute then to another 20 years in the community." He added that the Beijing model is feasible for this and future Olympic Games.

(Christophe Dubi, Executive Director of Olympic Games Department of the International Olympic Committee, makes a speech via video)

Han Zirong shared how Beijing, host city of 2008 and 2022 Olympic Games, has worked hard to achieve a win-win situation between the Olympic Games and the city development.

She said that venues are the most tangible Olympic legacy, and that at the core area of the Beijing Olympic Green, where the WWSE is held, are many venues from the Beijing 2008 Games.“Committed to a sustainable and clean approach to hosting the Games, Beijing 2022 plans to reutilise these legacy venues for the Beijing 2022 Games.…In addition to legacy venues, the Olympic Games also plays a significant role in promoting urban development. In Beijing, the metro construction has sped up. With a total mileage of 700 kilometres and a daily passenger volume of more than 10 million people, the metro system has greatly facilitated public mobility. Covering an area of 450 hectares along the central axis of Beijing city, the Olympic Green has become a fitness and recreational hub for local residents. Besides, a number of high-level competition management talents have been trained and cultivated, who are still active in many major competition events.” she added.

(Zang Aimin, Executive Deputy President of Qingdao Olympic Sailing City Development Association, makes a speech)

(Günther Platter, Governor of Tyrol, Austria, makes a speech)

(Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Helsinki, Finland, makes a speech)

Gao Yunchao, Deputy Secretary General of Beijing Olympic City Development Association, said, “The Olympic legacy is universal and owned by all citizens. Carrying on the Olympic legacy is to enable all citizens to share the achievements of the Olympics. It is sharable and requires the extensive forms of engagement of the public. Only in this way can it be shared. The Olympic legacy is innovative. Its carrying on involves all aspects, including foreign affairs, sports, culture, education, publicity, and environmental protection. It relates to works of government departments and complements each other. Only with innovation can the carrying on of the Olympic legacy is dynamic and vigorous."