The IOC never refrains from raising its voice, but it appreciates even more giving out good points. At the risk, sometimes, of exposing yourself to unpleasant surprises. With the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, the Olympic organization is discovering an almost unexpected opportunity to indulge in triumphalism and self-satisfaction.
A little less than 4 years from the event, the Chinese are increasingly taking on the appearance of top of the class. They even tick all the boxes of the example to follow, to the point of already establishing themselves as the first allies of the IOC in its search for a new standard for the Games, winter and summer.
Thomas Bach in the lead, more than 50 envoys from the Olympic organization made the trip to Beijing this week for the debriefing of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games. Since their arrival in the Chinese capital, they have been everywhere a smile that chases away the clouds.
Thomas Bach reminded us: the Beijing Games will be the first in history to benefit from the resolutions of Agenda 2020 since the first day. A double-edged sword. In the event of failure, the event could undermine the hopes placed by the IOC in this vast reform plan intended to reduce the costs of the Games and reassure future candidate cities. Not simple, then.
But no one envisages failure at this stage of preparation. The Chinese are not departing one millimeter from the line of action of Agenda 2020.
The budget, first. Present since the start of the week in Beijing, Juan Antonio Samaranch repeats it to anyone who will listen: the Chinese are firmly keeping their commitments. They stay on point. President of the coordination commission for the Beijing 2022 Games, the Spaniard insists: “ The Chinese had announced in their application file a budget of 3,5 billion dollars, for the Games and for equipment. They stick to it. We did not even need to put pressure on them to fully embrace Agenda 2020 and the New Normal. They do it because they find meaning in it"
The sites, then. Here again, Beijing 2020 does not deviate from the line set by the IOC. The Chinese are happily recycling the equipment built for the Games in 2008. Among the 13 sites planned in Beijing itself, 11 are inherited from the 2008 Summer Games. The emblematic national stadium, called "Bird's Nest", will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies in 2022. The aquatic center, the famous “Water Cube”, will host the curling events.
Obviously, Thomas Bach appreciates it. “ It is very encouraging to see how Beijing 2022 is taking full advantage of its potential to use its already existing sites and respect the 2020 Agenda, he underlined at the start of the week in the Chinese capital. This reinforces our feeling that we will experience excellent Games in 4 years. »
Same story with Christophe Dubi, the director of the Olympic Games at the IOC, cited by the China Daily: " Today we have no doubt that the Beijing 2022 Winter Games will be an example of cost control"
Legacy now. By granting the Olympic event to Beijing, preferred to Almaty during the July 2015 session in Kuala Lumpur, the IOC did not hide its hope of seeing the event fully benefit winter sports, to its industry and its institutions. According to Beijing Mayor Chen Jining, the city introduced 4,5 million of its residents to winter sports during the last winter alone, during promotional events or local competitions.
Thomas Bach: “ Several hundred million Chinese will discover winter sports and develop a passion for their disciplines. This will leave a huge legacy, not only to China, but also to the rest of the world. » Bingo.
For the rest, Chinese know-how in terms of organization does not inspire any fear. THE China Daily recalls that Beijing 2022 sent 254 of its employees to South Korea, between November 2017 and March 2018, to observe the preparation and progress of the PyeongChang 2018 Games. The Chinese had prepared 2000 questions to ask the South Koreans during the debriefing organized this week in Beijing. The IOC can sleep peacefully.
