By Nick Butler 

Sir Philip Craven spoke positively about Beijing's chances in the 2022 race ©Getty ImagesMarch 16 - Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), has spoken positively about Beijing's bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics and claimed a lot can be learnt from Sochi 2014. 


Speaking ahead of the Winter Paralympic Closing Ceremony today, Sir Philip hailed "excellent pre-Games planning, efficient execution of the planning, as well as the well-organised operation" as elements which could be incorporated. 

He also praised the "flexibility and great capacity for quick-learning" displayed by Sochi 2014, which "has made its cooperation with the IPC smooth and effective".

A Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games would look to replicate the success of the 2008 version ©Getty ImagesA Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games would look to replicate the success of the 2008 version ©Getty Images




Sir Philip also spoke optimistically about Beijing's fledgling bid.

"The IPC has maintained good relations with China, and the Governing body of the Paralympic Movement is also looking forward to working with the bidding city of Beijing," he told Xinhua.

"We are looking into what you are proposing and support it."

He added that successfully hosting the Summer Olympics and Paralympics had helped China gain precious experience, and he praised how Beijing 2008 had produced "two Games of equal splendour".

He also spoke about how the Chinese people have shown their passion for sports, especially through their support for the Paralympics.

China's fourth place finish in wheelchair curling was their best sporting result of Sochi 2014 ©Getty ImagesChina's fourth place finish in wheelchair curling was their best sporting result of Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images



These words come following the deadline for the submission of the Applicant Files in the 2022 contest - which was successfully met by Beijing along with four rival bids from Almaty, Kraków, Lviv and Oslo.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) - of which Sir Philip is also a member - will then choose an unspecified number of Candidate Cities in July before a final decision is made at its Session in Kuala Lumpur on July 31, 2015.

The foremost challenge that Beijing is thought to face relates to whether the IOC will be prepared for another Games to be hosted in East Asia following Pyeongchang 2018 and Tokyo 2020.

But when asked what was the most important criteria for a potential Paralympic host city to fulfil, Sir Philip answered by speaking about the creation of a barrier-free environment for people with impairments in a mental as well as a physical sense.

"The greatest change is the transformation of perceptions from negative to positive, and that only happened when the athletes are competing and when the spectators and television viewers are watching," he added. 

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