Beijing will accelerate its preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympics, with construction of the competition venues planned to be finished by the end of 2019, Beijing authorities said during the municipal parliamentary session, China News reported on Monday.

Zhang Jiandong, deputy mayor of Beijing, said that the construction of all the 26 venues will be stepped up this year in order to achieve that goal.

The government work report said Beijing will use concerted efforts to prepare for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The Beijing government has mobilized medical workers for a simulated emergency rescue to ensure that participants in the event have a safe experience.

As part of the transportation network, the expressways connecting the venues are under construction, which will shorten travel time between different venues.

Beijing hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 2008. In 2015, it won the bid to co-host the 2022 Winter Olympics with Zhangjiakou.