IOC impressed by Beijing's resolve

Organizers praised for 'proficiency and determination' amid virus-affected preparations for 2022 Winter Games

Beijing's efforts to cautiously push ahead with preparations for the 2022 Winter Games amid the coronavirus crisis have earned the wholehearted backing of the International Olympic Committee.

Even with the outbreak disrupting competition schedules and suspending some construction, China continues to make steady progress preparing for the Games, as acknowledged by IOC vice-president Juan Antonio Samaranch during a video conference call with organizers on Monday.

"We want to tell you how close we are to you in this difficult and complicated health situation in your country … also we are very, very impressed by how the authorities of your country have been dealing with this difficult moment," Samaranch said in his opening remarks.

The high-level online meeting took place in lieu of a visit to the capital from the IOC's coordination commission (CoCom) to avoid any health risks.

Several top 2022 organizing committee officials were among the participants, including its executive vice-president Zhang Jiandong and secretary general Han Zirong.

"We are very, very proud of your proficiency and dedication," said Samaranch, who also chairs CoCom.

"Don't hesitate to let us know, at any point of time, if we can give any help and assistance to help you with the crisis."

Prior to the virus outbreak, CoCom conducted regular inspection visits to Beijing and 2022 co-host city Zhangjiakou in Hebei province to assess preparations for the Games and to discuss key issues with local organizers, international winter sports federations and stakeholders.

Issues discussed during Monday's meeting included reform of the Games' global ticketing sales operation, Beijing 2022's hospitality program, sustainability and legacy plans.

With the Chinese people going all out to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the IOC's understanding in conducting communication and assessment online was much appreciated, said Zhang, who is also vice-mayor of Beijing.

"Although we did not meet in person in recent days, the Beijing 2022 organizing committee has been keeping in close communication with the IOC, reporting important updates," he said.

The first official test competition for the 2022 Winter Olympics has been among a number of major sports events to fall victim to the virus.

An International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine Ski World Cup meet, scheduled for last weekend, was canceled in northwest Beijing's Yanqing district.

With downhill and super-G titles up for grabs, the event was supposed to serve as an elite test of the courses and facilities at the newly built National Alpine Skiing Center.

"It is with great regret that all of the stakeholders are obliged to take the difficult decision to cancel the World Cup races in Yanqing this season," FIS president Gian Franco Kasper said in a statement.

However, even with the late call-off, work on China's first Olympic-standard alpine resort shows no sign of slowing down.

The resort operation team returned to work on the second day of China's Lunar New Year (Jan 26) to put the finishing touches to the slope according to their original schedule, revealed Luo Jin, a project manager of the resort's construction company, Beijing Enterprises Group.

Luo said that his team collected real-time data, such as the temperature on the slope, sunlight conditions and wind speed prior to the original World Cup race window－information which could help for future snow quality control.

Workers' body temperatures are checked every day and the wearing of masks is mandatory, while those who have just returned are under quarantine, as required, Luo added.

Offices, cafeteria, dormitories and shuttle buses are disinfected daily.

Just across a ridge adjacent to the alpine ski slopes, the construction of the National Sliding Center for bobsled, luge and skeleton for the 2022 Game is also underway, with over 100 workers installing tracks and ancillary facilities under strict epidemic prevention and control measures.

However, the outbreak has forced the sliding center to postpone a March 9-15 homologation process that was scheduled to assess track safety.

"All the stakeholders have been doing their utmost to prepare the pre-homologation, but the health and welfare of the athletes and all participants has to be respected," said a statement released by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation on Jan 30.

In the Chongli district of Zhangjiakou, all ski resorts, including Genting Resort Secret Garden where freestyle skiing and snowboarding will be staged in 2022, closed operations before the Lunar New Year to contain the spread of the virus.

The inaugural Winter X Games Chongli, originally scheduled to be staged on Genting's Olympic courses this weekend, have been postponed, however China's snowboard halfpipe and ski cross national teams continue to train at the resort in preparation for 2022.

All national teams training at home are under tightly managed closed-door programs, with disease prevention measures adhered to in accommodation, transportation and logistics, according to Liu Guoyong, vice-president of the Chinese Olympic Committee.