Olympic construction in co-host city Zhangjiakou to be completed in 2020

All the projects related to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in Zhangjiakou, co-host city for the event, are expected to be completed this year.

Xu Qin, governor of north China's Hebei Province where Zhangjiakou is located, made the announcement Tuesday when delivering a government work report at the opening of the local annual legislative session.

The construction of the venues, including the National Ski Jumping Center, which will host the Ski Jump and Nordic Combined events, will be completed and put into operation in 2020, Xu said.

Meanwhile, the construction of several key projects including the Olympic village and a snow town are expected to finish by the end of August.

In preparation for the Games, Zhangjiakou has launched 76 projects including venues and support facilities. Thirty-six of them have been completed, Xu said.

Xu also said the province would develop the ice and snow industry, nurture top-notch winter sports talent and promote winter sports among the public to better take advantage of the Olympics and boost regional development.

Zhangjiakou was thrust into the global spotlight when the city and Beijing won their co-bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in 2015.