China`s Xi Jinping vows `fantastic` Winter Games

Kuala Lumpur: China`s President Xi Jinping on Friday vowed that Beijing would stage a "fantastic" event if it is chosen for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Xi expressed the Chinese government`s "strongest support" for Beijing in a video message to an International Olympic Committee meeting to decide whether Beijing or Almaty, Kazakhstan, gets the 2022 Games.

"Let me assure you that if you choose Beijing, the Chinese people will present to the world a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Olympic Winter Games," Xi said.

Beijing, which hosted the 2008 Olympics, is aiming to become the first city to hold the Summer and Winter Games.

Xi said a Beijing Games "will boost exchanges and mutual understanding between the Chinese and other civilizations of the world and encourage more than 1.3 billion Chinese to engage in winter sports with interest and passion."

He added: "We will honour all of the commitments that we have made and fully implement the Olympic agenda 2020" of reforms aimed at making Games cheaper and more sustainable.

China basketball legend Yao Ming also spoke at the IOC meeting to back the Beijing bid.