2022 Beijing Winter Olympics rejuvenates rural communities

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03:05

It may be four more years until the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, but locals in the mountainous Yanqing District are already reaping rewards from the upcoming games.

For Lang Enge, a former sheep caretaker, he said his life has been transformed since his hometown Yanqing was announced as one of the hosts of the 2022 games.

Yanqing – 74 kilometers northwest of downtown Beijing – will be one of the three game zones for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, besides Beijing and Zhangjiakou.

“They switched my occupation from a farmer to the manager of a ski team, so I have seen huge benefits. I can also see it from an economic sense or in terms of ideals. I have seen my health improve, and it has also opened up my perspective in the way I interact with people and manage things,” Lang said.

The 18-member Haituo Ski team in which Lang is in charge of is mainly made up of farmers, with a combined average of 10 years skiing experience. The team has trained 5-thousand people including kids since its establishment a year ago.

“We hope to train more people to ski, for them to fall in love with it, and from within turn it into a career, such that even after the Winter Olympics, they are able to work as a coach or in other related areas,” Lang said.

Lang Enge (middle); a previous sheep caretaker established a “farmer ski team” spurred on by the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics /CGTN Photo

Lang previously had to sell his flock of sheep due to environmental concerns.

Guo Junhua, who is also a member of the Haituo Ski Team, founded the Star of Haituo Children’s Public Welfare Ski Camp in June this year. Her goal: to get these children to start young in winter sports.

“Traction has been good so far, the children are very excited about skiing. And although there are challenges in coaching them – with the youngest being 4.5 years old – they have been adept in accepting this training,” Guo said.

“In the past, I used to work just because. But it’s now to fulfill my dream… which is the Winter Olympics. Having been a ski coach for 10 years, I hope to be able to train and cultivate a future champions in this children’s team,” she added.

While commending the local Zhangshanying government for providing free training to these kids, Guo hopes these kids will also have the chance to train in bigger skiing areas, including overseas.

Medical teams gear up in hopes to volunteer

Farmers and children aside, the medical community in Yanqing is also gearing up for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

The 50-member medical team – ranging from doctors, nurses, and health practitioners – has been undergoing roller skating and ski simulation training in the past four months. They will also undergo a medical skills training test.

The medical team’s lead trainer, Geng Xuan, believes that together with his team, they will be able to reach the necessary standards to volunteer as medical support staff for the 2022 games.

“We are confident… it is our honor to be able to contribute to the Winter Olympics events that will be held in our village,” Geng said.

Geng Xuan, Yanqing medical team’s lead ski trainer has a goal: to get his team ready to be able to volunteer for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics games /CGTN Photo

“While our medical service and support system isn’t complete yet, we hope to gain enough from our training that even after the games, we will be able to use what we’ve learned to provide medical support for alpine skiing – and to pass these skills on in the future,” Geng added.

Indeed, people in Yanqing are hopeful to bring forth the winter sports spirit to future generations.