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Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with IOC President

2015-08-24 11:37 IOC

©IOC/Greg Martin

22/08/2015--In a meeting between International Olympic Committee (IOC) President and Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Xi said China would “deliver on all its promises” after Beijing was elected host of the Olympic Winter Games 2022 earlier this month.

President Xi added that the Olympic Winter Games would contribute to the social and economic development of China and its people.

He said it would “promote snow and ice sports not just to China’s 1.3 billion people but to the whole world.” And he praised sports ability “to improve health and lifestyles, especially amongst young people.”

President Bach congratulated President Xi for winning the right to stage the Games in 2022 and thanked him for his commitment to the Olympic Movement and Olympic Values. He added: “The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 are a great opportunity for Beijing, the region and for China.”

President Xi welcomed the IOC President’s suggestion to bring international experts on winter sports to China during preparations for the Games.

The meeting took place at the Bird’s Nest Stadium, which also hosted the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games 2008 and will be used once again for the Opening Ceremony in 2022.

President Bach also thanked the Chinese President for his help in including sport on the political declaration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. If achieved, President Bach said, it would be a “milestone” for sport.

The two leaders also discussed the Olympic Channel, which President Xi described as “a very significant development.”

President Bach also expressed the sympathy of the entire Olympic Movement for all those affected by the recent disaster in the Chinese port city of Tianjin. The gesture was welcomed by the Chinese President, who talked of the blast and the heroism of firefighters who had “tackled the explosion with no thought for their own safety.”

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