As the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are around the corner, China has made efforts to ensure residents feel the benefits of the Games and enjoy the time the Games are in session.
Using green electricity
The world's first flexible DC power grid project from Zhangbei to Beijing was fully put into operation in June 2020. All the venues of the Winter Olympics are 100 percent green for the first time in the history of the Olympics.
This also means green electricity will be delivered to tens of millions of Beijing residents. This will provide clean energy and drastically reduce carbon emissions.
Tax preferences
The preparations for the Winter Olympic Games are in the sprinting stage, and that includes preferential tax policies.
Compared with the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, the tax policies for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games have many special features. For example, there was no water resource tax relief in the 2008 Olympics, because the Winter Olympic Games are carrying out two major projects with ice and snow.
"Ice and snow benefiting people" in Beijing and Hebei
The Capital Indoor Stadium was opened to the public recently, with a free skating area and public classes taught by many world champions. At the same time, the Capital Indoor Stadium proposed an "Ice and snow benefiting people" program, guaranteeing the country's skating rinks will be open to the public for free at least one day per month. 33 stadiums in Beijing and Hebei have joined the program so far.
Even more sporting areas
About 90,000 square meters of additional sporting areas have been opened to the public along the Winter Olympic line. The overall progress of the project has been 80 percent completed, and it is planned to be fully finished by the end of December.
A green park has been built for residents, and there are other sports areas such as a basketball court, a football court, and table tennis court under construction that will be officially put into use next year.