Although a little bit early to talk about hosting the Winter Olympics, China should think of bidding for it especially after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, said He Zhenliang, honorary president of the Chinese Olympic Committee, here on January 28.

"The conditions in China for hosting the Winter Olympic Games are currently far beyond what they need to be, but in my opinion, the day (to host Winter Olympics in China) will come soon," He said at the Beidahu ski resort, the venue of all snow sports during Jan. 28-Feb. 4 sixth Asian Winter Games.

The Games features five snow sports of biathlon, Alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboard, with 21 gold medals on offer.

Twenty-seven years ago, China made its debut in the Winter Olympic Games in 1980. Since then, He, then deputy chef-de-mission of the Chinese delegation, has long been looking forward to the winter Games on home soil.

"China needs to think about hosting the Winter Olympic Games, but we have to go a long way before really making it," He added.

"Besides the facilities, Chinese people need to pay much more attention to the winter sports and our athletes have to pull out convincing results on ice and snow (if we want to apply for the right to host the winter Olympics)."

Harbin, the capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, was the only Chinese city that ever bade the hosting right for the Winter Olympics but failed in the first bidding process in 2002.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2007)