With only one more day to go before the International Olympic Committee decides on the 2022 Winter Olympic Games host city, two icons of Chinese sport, Yao Ming and Song Andong, are doing their best to promote Beijing's bid.
Eight-time NBA All-star Yao Ming has expressed the desire and enthusiasm of bringing winter Olympic Games to China.
"It's a great honour to be part of the campaign. Both the summer Olympics and winter Olympics represent the Olympic constitution and Olympic spirits. The Olympics inspire people's courage, to influence more people to a create better future and a better world. On that part, I think it is about the right time and perfect time to bring the Olympic back in Beijing in 2022."
Song Andong, a teenager born in Beijing who is the first Chinese-born player to be drafted into the National Hockey League, says the development of winter sports in the country could be further enhanced, if Beijing is awarded the rights.
"It's a special honor to be able to do it in your country and the city you grow up. I think the problem right now is to get more people to get involved with the sport. The younger generation - the kids - have grown up and they can participate in the sport. Again with hockey, just get the momentum of the sport going. I think that will develop the sport as a whole and we will really grow into one of the powerhouses, hopefully."
To meet the aims of hosting "sustainable" and "economical" games that can leave a "powerful legacy", Yao Ming says Beijing has the experience and ability to hold cost-effective Games.
He also indicates the shortage of snow will not be a problem for the decision on the bid.
"Artificial snow, yes, in fact, there is some of it, but consider the number of the percent in the entire snow. I think it is small and have very limited impact on the local water supply. And most of the snow game area is in Yanqing and Zhangjiakou, those areas are always covered with snow in the winter, so that will not be a problem. "
The International Olympic Committee will announce the results of the vote tomorrow. Beijing is up against Almaty, Kazakhstan.
For CRI, I'm Huang Shan.
