China makes Beijing 2022 a game-changer for Olympic reform

Shougang Group gradually relocated its production site as part of efforts to reduce air pollution in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The former production site in western Beijing has been renovated to training venues to meet the demand for national teams preparing for the 2022 Games. The Organizing Committee of Beijing 2022 has moved its offices into the renovated site as well.

During an IOC debriefing on the Pyeongchang Winter Games and the Beijing 2022 Olympics in June, IOC president Thomas Bach said that "there are two impressive highlights from Beijing. One is sustainability. You need to look around here at the Shougang Center, [to see the] the positive effect that awarding the Olympic Games had for this area."

"The Organizing Committee is working with high efficiency, while making all the potential savings the Olympic Agenda 2020 is offering, and keeping the Olympic spirit alive and respecting the athlete experience. We are very confident that Beijing will set a new benchmark benefiting for the first time from all the potential of the Olympic Agenda 2020 with regard to a great organization, offering the best opportunity for the athletes and in particular sustainability and feasibility," he added.

Earlier this year, the IOC announced an ambitious set of 118 reforms, focusing on six recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020 related to the organization of the Games, and aims to ensure that the Games are affordable, beneficial and sustainable.

Beijing 2022 is taking steps to comply with these reforms by putting on a Games that is "green, inclusive, open and clean" to honor China's commitment to host a "fantastic, extraordinary and excellent" Games.

China's ideas and the IOC's reform are in perfect harmony with one another. Bach says he believes that Beijing 2022 will set a new standard for sustainability.

"Beijing 2022 can set a new benchmark for a sustainable Olympic Games, on one hand benefiting from the legacy of the Beijing 2008 and on the other developing a new winter sports destination in a sustainable way," Bach told Xinhua at the PyeongChang Winter Games.

China plans to compete in all 109 events in 2022 Games, a number which is unprecedented and will certainly bring a new momentum to winter sports in China.

China also announced a concrete measure to broaden the influence of the Winter Games, by encouraging 300 million people in China to participate in winter sports.

"Just think about the 300 million participants in winter sports. It is a remarkable contribution to the Olympics in itself," said Yang Yang, former IOC member and current chair of the Athletes'Commission of Beijing 2022.