Alan Lee writes that the 2022 Winter Olympics offers Hong Kong people a wonderful opportunity to develop a closer relationship with the mainland

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded Beijing and Zhangjiakou the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at its 128th general assembly on July 31. As a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, I am very happy and proud to hear this great news. This is the second time the IOC has chosen Beijing as the host after the nation's capital successfully hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics. The decision is proof the IOC trusts not only Beijing (and Zhangjiakou) but also more than 1.3 billion Chinese people. As Chinese citizens, Hong Kong residents have every reason to help make the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games a success.

The 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing will be a great opportunity for Hong Kong residents to broaden their understanding of the country and enhance their sense of belonging. It is widely known that the Winter Olympics are very different from the Summer Games. At the Winter Games people will see many sports they do not normally get to watch. At the same time they will appreciate the athletes' determination and dedication despite all the hardships and setbacks they experience in competition as well as training - the never-say-die conviction known as the "Olympic Spirit".

In particular they will get to see Chinese athletes compete for the nation. The passion and drive these athletes display should encourage patriotic feelings among many Hong Kong residents. I suggest the organizing committee of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games opens its volunteer program to university students from Hong Kong so they can contribute to the event. This will allow Hong Kong young people to develop a stronger sense of national identity while working as volunteers.

The Beijing Winter Olympics will let Hong Kong people enjoy different winter scenery they will never see in their hometown. They will experience the unique charm of northern China on the coldest days of the year. They will learn more about Chinese culture when they travel to Beijing and Zhangjiakou. Zhangjiakou is not as well-known to Hong Kong residents as other cities. The Winter Games will give Hong Kong residents an opportunity to see the city and learn more about its history and culture.

The Beijing Winter Olympic Games will also give Hong Kong businesses many opportunities to benefit from the rare sporting event - especially with the city of Zhangjiakou as co-host. Hosting snow sports competitions during the Beijing Winter Games will add something extra to the city's socio-economic development amid the joint development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic zone. There are numerous business opportunities for Hong Kong-based enterprises to participate in the shaping of another regional growth engine on the mainland and hopefully efforts to extend the development drive toward the country's northwest.

To host a successful Winter Olympics Beijing and Zhangjiakou need to undertake many infrastructure projects, including sports venues and related facilities such as athlete village, hotels, roads and all the necessary utilities. It will give Zhangjiakou's urban development a major boost as well. Given the high international standards required of these facilities, Hong Kong businesses will be in an advantageous position to bid for construction projects as well as the management of such facilities after they are completed.

The SAR government is encouraged to start organizing business trips to the Winter Games host cities for Hong Kong-based enterprises interested in finding business opportunities in northern China.

Beijing will be the first city in the world to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. I hope Hong Kong, particularly the business community and young people, will seize this opportunity and make the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games a great success.

The author is president of Hong Kong Commercial & Industry Association.

(HK Edition 08/07/2015 page11)