Beijing mayor Wang Anshun told the IOC delegates that the 2008 Beijing Games "served as an impetus" to make improvements costing USD 130 billion to enhance air quality in the city.
He also said the city had removed more than 1 million high-emission vehicles from its roads. Beijing is bidding to be the first city to stage both Summer and Winter OIympics.
Chinese Olympic Committee President Liu Peng told the IOC that snow-making facilities in the mountains would have minimal impact on the environment.