IOC lauds Beijing 2022 preparation

LAUSANNE - The Organizing Committees for Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024 delivered presentations to the 134th International Olympic Committee Session here on Tuesday on the progress being made for the upcoming Games.

The Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee presented a "very positive" report about the great strides being made for the next Olympic Winter Games, the IOC said.

Juan Antonio Samaranch, the IOC Coordination Commission chair for Beijing 2022, told the session that all competition venues will be completed by 2020, and plans for 15 test events are on track, including the first test event at the National Alpine Ski Centre in February 2020.

The IOC vice-president added that Beijing is also benefitting from the reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020 and the New Norm as it aims to deliver cost-effective, intelligent and green Games.

"The announcement of its Legacy Coordination Committee reiterates the importance of post-Games plans for the Organizing Committee," he said, adding that there are already plans for each new Olympic venue, while the venue legacy of Beijing 2008 will also be leveraged.

In the "soft" part of the legacy, Samaranch said that the 2022 Games continue to inspire millions of Chinese people to take part in winter sports activities, as part of the goal to get 300 million people in China active and participating in winter sports.

The 59-year-old Spaniard concluded his report by saying that "In summary, we are very confident and very comfortable about the road ahead of us."