Illustration: Peter C. Espina/GT

The Olympic Games are always a spectacle that draws a spotlight from all around the world. While the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games are in full swing, the Chinese Olympic Committee in Russia announced their plan to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The committee held a news conference in Sochi on Saturday stressing that the bid is supported by the Chinese people, saying a recent survey showed more than 94.8 percent support the idea. Moreover, the government plans to limit expenditures in preparing and hosting the event. The two cities taking part in China's bid, Beijing and Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province, have been winter sports centers for decades, and there are existing stadiums and venues that are suitable for the competition. Only three extra venues need to be constructed for the Games, according to the bid. 

This detailed outline will help ease public concern over the money that China would have to invest if the bid succeeds. When preparing to host the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the government built a total of 12 stadiums including the National Stadium (Bird's Nest), National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) and the MasterCard Center. Compared with the enormous wave of construction years before, the cost of building three venues sounds economical.

For many Chinese people, the Olympic Games touch their deep sense of national pride. It is no surprise that I support the bid, which could enable Beijing to become the first city in the world to stage both the summer and winter competitions. However, I would expect more from China's second Olympic Games, something beyond gold medals or swanky stadiums. I expect China to tell the world its story.

The significance of the Olympic Games is far beyond the sporting competitions. They integrate political discourses, elite narratives and elements of entertainment. They influence the masses by telling the heroic stories of athletes, reinforcing their ethnic recognition.

The Olympic Games are also the best occasion to exhibit the nation's soft power. The opening ceremony allows a nation to display the best of its culture and the wisdom of its people.

Statistics show that more than 100 million Chinese people watched the broadcast of the opening ceremony of the Sochi Olympics. Similar to the 2012 London Olympic Games, the ceremony told stories of the country's national heroes and achievements. There have been spoofs and complaints about an unprecedented gaffe in which a snowflake got stuck while transforming into one of the five interlocking rings of the Olympic logo. However, the Russian ceremony still impressed the world with its fabulous show.

It makes me ponder what China wants to present to the world if it hosts the Winter Games eight years later. Several years ago, China splashed onto the world scene like an upstart, showcasing its strength and modernity with its spectacular stadiums, accommodation, facilities and food. But as 2022 approaches, China is becoming more prudent and confident. It is a time to explain our nation's stories and culture to the world more effectively.

This article was published on the Global Times Metropolitan section Two Cents page, a space for reader submissions, including opinion, humor and satire. The ideas expressed are those of the author alone, and do not represent the position of the Global Times.