contents
Chinese ski resorts want to benefit economically in the long term from the Winter Olympics.
Snow cannons cover the slopes of the Thaiwoo ski resort in Chongli. The resort is not far from the Olympic venues. If it weren’t for the many Chinese characters, you could almost believe yourself in a European winter sports resort.
There are several food stands at the edge of the slopes. Two saleswomen offer spicy noodles. A specialty from her hometown Chongqing, in the southwest of the country, almost 1500 kilometers away.
Legend:
SRF / Martin Aldrovandi
They hoped that they would make good money thanks to the Winter Games, says one of the shop assistants. That’s why everyone is here.
Major investments in transport links
Li Yongtai is Vice Director of the Thaiwoo Resort. He is convinced that winter sports would benefit the whole region. While this used to be a poor region, it is now difficult to find enough workers, says Li. “The locals are all employed, and many people come back who previously worked outside the region.”
Legend:
Li Yongtai is hoping for the Olympic Games: They should ensure that the region is permanently hit by an economic boom.
SRF / Martin Aldrovandi
The resort was planned even before the Winter Games were awarded to Beijing, says Li. But the approval in 2015 changed a lot again. “Because of the Winter Games, the government invested heavily in the infrastructure here. We benefit from this directly. ” Li names the motorway and the new connection with the high-speed railroad.
Without the Winter Olympics, says Li Yongtai, all of this would have taken another 20 years. There are plenty of places to go skiing across the country. Modern winter sports resorts like here in Thaiwoo have only gradually emerged in recent years.
It’s like here in Switzerland. Almost like on the Jungfraujoch, right?
Ms. Guan grew up here, in her early 30s, and works as a ski instructor in winter. Life has improved for the residents, she says. “In summer you can now go horse riding, archery, archery, golf and much more. None of that existed here in the past. “
Legend:
The locals hope that the Olympics will turn China into a winter sports nation. In the picture: The Thaiwoo ski resort in Chongli.
Keystone
Ski instructors are now also coming here from other parts of the country. If the Chinese government has its way, the Olympic Games should serve as a springboard to get around 300 million Chinese people interested in winter sports in the long term.
“Like in Switzerland”
But will it work out for Thaiwoo? Li Yongtai is confident. The visitors, he says, can not only enjoy skiing here, but also the nature and the fresh air. «It’s like here in Switzerland. Almost like on the Jungfraujoch, right? ”Says Li with a smile.
Ski instructor Guan, on the other hand, thinks that, of course, you cannot guarantee a long-lasting boom. But she hoped that more and more people would ski in China even after the Winter Games.