World news agencies visit 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic sites
On Monday, agency representatives visited the National Stadium and other sites in Beijing, most of which were constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and are being repurposed for 2022.
"Most of the venues we know already, because we worked here in 2008," said Vincent Amalvy, head of special operations at Agence France-Presse. "It's amazing to come back. For example, the [National Aquatics Center Water Cube] will be transformed into a curling venue."
Shinsuke Kobayashi, deputy managing director of Kyodo News' Olympic and Paralympic news office, was also complimentary about Beijing's Olympic legacy.
"I'm quite impressed that the Winter Games here is utilizing the summer venues very well. It's very good planning. I can see the legacy of the 2008 Olympic Games. Chinese tourists are coming to the Birds' Nest and Water Cube. It's good to see that the venues haven't become white elephants after the 2008 Games," Kobayashi said.
