Yao Ming and five more Chinese sports stars back Beijing 2022 to host excellent Games

Six legendary Chinese athletes became today officialAmbassadors of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Bid. Yao Ming, basketball star and NBAlegend, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, the illustrious pair skaters, Li Nina, multiple aerialskiing champion, Zhang Hong, Sochi 2014 gold medalist in long-track speed skating, andHou Bin, Paralympic high jump champion, all voiced their support to the Bid at a specialevent organized in the Beijing 2022 Bid Committee’s headquarters in presence of theVice-President of the Bid Committee, Zhang Jiandong, and the Secretary General of theChinese Olympic Committee, Song Luzeng.

Yao Ming said: "I think the Beijing 2022 Bid is a great opportunity. Beijing already hassome good experience as an Olympic host and good infrastructure from 2008. Beijing2022 would bring it all to a new level and make more people understand sport and beinvolved. It is very important, as sport is more than just a physical competition, it is away to forge character and discipline."

Zhao Hongbo said: "We are very honored to become the Beijing 2022 Ambassadors. TheBeijing 2022 Bid contributes to get more Chinese people excited about the winter sports,encourages them to get involved in ice and snow activities and to learn more about theOlympic Games".

Shen Xue added: "As figure skaters, we are very honored indeed to become the Beijing2022 Ambassadors. I think that the Beijing 2022 Bid will fast-forward the developmentof ice and snow sports industry in China and will allow more young people to learnabout and to love winter sports".

Zhang Hong, who secured China’s first ever Olympic gold in speed skating at the Sochi2014 Games commented: "When competing, I am very grateful to be supported by fansboth in the stadium and back home. Chinese people are getting increasingly passionateabout winter sports, and I can only imagine how great the atmosphere would be if Chinawere to host Winter Olympics in 2022."

Li Nina, aerial skiing champion who won silver at two Olympic Games, in 2006 and in2010, said: "I participated in four Olympic Games and I can say that there is nothing likecompeting and being cheered by fans and feeling like you are back home. I feel that as aBeijing 2022 Bid Ambassador, I can lend my knowledge to the success of the Bid."

Hou Bin who left the world in awe by hauling himself and his wheelchair to the Bird’sNest’s roof to light the cauldron of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games added: ""I trulybelieve that promoting winter Paralympic sports in China will provide the seventymillion people living with a disability in this country with more opportunities to live theirlives to the fullest and enjoy sports and an accessible environment all-year-round."

The six athletes are the face of the Chinese Olympic successes and are recognized bothat home and internationally. They actively participated in the development of theBeijing 2022 plans, to ensure that all athletes’ needs are met.

The Beijing 2022 Ambassadors will continue driving public enthusiasm for the Bid - inChina and across the world - and representing the Bid’s goal to host athlete-centred,sustainable and economical Games over the next months up to the final IOC vote inKuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 31.

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