政协委员声援北京申冬奥

With less than five months to go before the International Olympic Committee chooses the host city for the 2022 Winter Olympics, Chinese political advisors have voiced full support for Beijing's bid at the annual session of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

还剩不到五个月，国际奥委会将宣布2022年冬季奥林匹克运动会的主办城市。全国政协委员们在一年一度的全国人民政治协商会议上全力声援北京申办冬奥会。

Basketball legend Yao Ming, one of the highest-profile CPPCC member, believes that Beijing's bid for the Winter Olympics will take sport in China to new level.

作为一名最引人瞩目的政协委员，篮球巨星姚明相信如果北京成功申办冬奥会，将带领中国体育事业进入新的高度。

"The Beijing 2022 bid would make Chinese people understand more about sport, and as the Winter Olympics feature more outdoor events than the Summer Games, it will get more Chinese involved in sport," said the former NBA All-Star center.

“北京2022冬奥会将能让人民更好地认识体育运动，因为冬奥会比夏天的奥运会有更多的户外项目，它将能让更多的中国人参与进来，”这位前NBA全明星赛的中锋说。

Yao, who retired from basketball in 2011 because of a foot injury and now runs the Chinese Basketball Association's Shanghai Sharks club, was named last month an ambassador for the Beijing 2022 Bid.

姚明自从2011年因脚伤从篮球场上退役以来，目前正经营着中国篮球协会的上海鲨鱼队。他在上个月被邀请作为北京申办2022年冬奥会的形象大使。

"I am honored to play a part in Beijing's 2022 bid," said Yao.

“我很荣幸地能为2022年北京冬奥申办出一份力！”姚明说。

"Beijing lost out in the bid race for the 2000 Olympics but won the second time - for the 2008 Games. Those have become unforgettable memories of many Chinese people. I was too young to contribute to either bid, but this time I will do my best," he added.

“北京与2000年奥运会失之交臂，但在第二次申请2008年时成功了。这对很多中国人来说已经是难以忘怀的回忆了。当时我还很年轻，无法为上两次的申办出力，但这一次我会尽全力的。”他补充道。

Han Aiping, also a CPPCC member whose daily work is promoting sports at the grassroots level, said that hosting an Winter Olympics in China can further popularize healthy life style in the world's most populous nation.

同是政协委员的韩爱萍，每天奔走于向草根阶层推广体育运动。她说，申办冬奥会，能在这个世界上人口最多的国家，深入推广健康的生活方式。

"Since the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Chinese people have had more profound understanding of sport, and the national fitness drive has gained more and more attention from the public. I believe, if we win the Winter Olympics bid, the mass enthusiasm in sports, especially winter sports, will go to a new level," said Han, a retired badminton player who won multiple world titles in 1980s.

“自从2008年奥运会以来，中国人民更深入地了解了体育运动，全民健身运动赢得了大众广泛的关注。我相信，如果我们赢得了冬奥会的举办权，大众对体育运动，尤其是冬季体育运动的热情将会去到一个新的高度，”韩爱萍说，她是曾在1980年代赢得多项羽毛球世界奖牌。

Li Guoping, head of the Beijing Sports Medicine Hospital, has noticed a raising enthusiasm in winter sports since Beijing launched the bid for the 2022 Games.

北京体育医院院长李国平指出，自从北京开展申办2022年冬奥会工作以来，群众在冬季运动项目上的热情不断高涨。

"Patients with injuries sustained in winter sports activities increased last year. I think it somehow reflects the growing popularity of winter sports in China," said Li.

“去年，在冬季运动项目中受伤的病人有所增加，我认为这从某种程度上说明中国从事冬季运动的人群在增长，”李国平说。

"Compared with winter sports, summer sports are better developed in China. But on the other hand, we can also say winter sports have bigger potential in our country. If our bid succeeds, such potential can be well released," he added.

“比起冬季运动，中国的夏季运动是发展得好些。但另一方面看来，我们也可以说冬季运动的发展在我国具有巨大的潜力。如果我们申办成功，这股潜力将得到释放。”他补充道。

Fellow CPPCC member Bian Zhiliang is optimistic about Beijing's chances in the two-city race with Almaty, Kazakhstan.

政协委员卞志良表示对申办冬奥会的形势比较乐观，认为北京会打败一同竞争的另一个城市——哈萨克斯坦的阿拉木图。

"As ex-IOC president Jacques Rogge said, the 2008 Beijing Olympics was 'truly exceptional'. I believe if the IOC awards Beijing the 2022 Games, we can also deliver one of the best Winter Olympics in history," said Bian, founder of Taishan Sports Equipment Manufacture Group, an official supplier of the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.

他说：“正如国际奥委会前主席雅克·罗格说过，北京奥运是‘无与伦比’的。我相信，如果国际奥委会给予北京2022年冬奥主办权，我们也能为冬奥会历史留下辉煌的一页。”卞志良是泰山体育产业集团创始人，也是2008年北京奥运及残奥官方供应商。

The IOC members will vote on the host city in Kuala Lumpur on July 31.

国际奥委会将于7月31日在吉隆坡投票决定2022年冬奥会主办城市。