21 February 2025 – International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach expressed his heartfelt thanks to China, the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) and the IOC’s Chinese partners and suppliers during his presidency when visiting Beijing and the Fujian province this week. He was welcomed by Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) President Gao Zhidan, and accompanied by the IOC Members in China, Yu Zaiqing and IOC Executive Board (EB) member Li Lingwei.
“China has always been a great partner of the IOC during my time in office. I want to say thank you to our Chinese friends and partners,” the IOC President told COC President Gao.
This strong cooperation will hopefully continue with my successor. China’s support has never been more important than now. Thomas Bach, IOC President
During a meeting with Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng, Han congratulated the IOC President on his time in office by highlighting the difficult situation of the world in the past 12 years and the reforms the IOC has undergone under Bach’s leadership. “You have laid a solid foundation for the future of the IOC and the Olympic Movement,” he said.
The IOC President, who met President Xi Jinping just recently during the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, said he wanted to thank China for its support during his time as IOC President, which has included the organisation of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Youth Olympic Games Nanjing 2014. He also thanked China for its support in the lead-up to the Olympic Games Paris 2024, always supporting the IOC’s political neutrality.
China’s strong support for the IOC was once again evident at the announcement ceremony for a new Worldwide Olympic Partnership with global technology company TCL through to 2032. TCL will be the official Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner in the Home Audiovisual Equipment and Home Appliances category. “The IOC is excited to announce its new partnership with TCL, a world leader in the television and household goods industries. TCL has a long history of supporting sport around the world, and is now taking its ambition to inspire greatness to new heights, as the Olympic Games are the greatest, most inspirational global sporting stage,” Bach said during the ceremony held in Beijing in the iconic “Water Cube” (Beijing 2008) / “Ice Cube” (Beijing 2022) venue.
During a meeting with Shen Haixiong, the President of China Media Group (CMG), Media Rights-Holder (MRH) in China and long-term partner of the IOC, President Bach was made an Honorary Staff Member of CMG. As recognition for his work over the last 12 years, Bach received a CMG badge imprinted with the number 1. “CMG will always be your home,” said CMG President Shen.
The IOC President thanked President Shen and CMG for the very close cooperation over all these years, for leading the way in broadcasting the Olympic Games, for CMG’s contribution to improving production methods and for spreading the Olympic values, reaching hundreds of millions of Chinese people. CMG also cooperates with the IOC’s Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), and at Paris 2024 produced the international feed for OBS in four sports: gymnastics, table tennis, badminton and sport climbing. At the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, CMG will produce the international broadcast signal for figure skating and short track – a first for CMG at the Winter Games.
Thomas Bach also met Gao Fei, CEO of Mengniu, in the National Museum of China. It is home to an impressive 1.5 million objects displayed over 200,000 square metres, and welcomes 26,000 visitors a day, with 500,000 people requesting tickets every day. Together, they toured the exhibition and were welcomed and hosted for a dinner by Museum Director Gao Zheng.
The IOC President congratulated Mengniu on its activation during the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and in particular on the successful China night. “Mengniu has been a very loyal partner to the IOC since the beginning of our partnership in 2019,” he said. CEO Gao expressed his gratitude for the continuous support from the IOC: “Thank you for all your work, President Bach. I would like to invite you back to China more often.” Mengniu will continue to activate its rights and promote the Olympic spirit, he said.
Meeting Yin Yong, the Mayor of Beijing, the IOC President discussed the legacy of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. The IOC will continue to support Beijing in keeping the legacy of these two Games editions alive. Mayor Yin explained how Beijing has used the Games to develop the city. “I appreciate how you promoted the Olympic values during your time as IOC President and how you have helped the city development here in Beijing,” Yin told Bach. Also during the meeting, the strong interest of China and Beijing in Olympic esports was discussed.
Bach got to see the impressive collection of the Beijing Olympic Museum during a visit guided by the Vice-Mayor of Beijing and President of BODA, Sima Hong. The President met Chinese children visiting the museum and volunteers at the two Games editions held in Beijing.
“The Olympic Museum revives many fond memories about the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. These were two truly exceptional Olympic Games China offered to the world. In this museum you can feel the Olympic spirit and how it is inspiring all generations. China can be very proud of these two editions of the Olympic Games, and Beijing can be very proud of being the only city which organised two editions of the Olympic Games: one in summer and one in winter,” the IOC President said.
At Beijing Sport University (BSU), Bach met two dozen Olympic champions and took part in a Q&A session with them on the future of sport and the Olympic values. Thomas Bach has been an Honorary Professor of the University since 2018.
He also went to the BSU training centre for rhythmic gymnastics, where China’s best rhythmic gymnasts are training. There, Bach met with athletes, among them the Group All-Around Olympic champions from Paris 2024, their coaches and many young hopefuls.
Bach also visited the ANTA Group in Jinjiang, Fujian province.
He was welcomed by Chairman Ding Shizhong. ANTA has been the Official Sportswear Uniform Supplier for the IOC since the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. The company has outlined its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework and made five commitments, to its customers, its partners, its employees, society and the environment.
While in Quanzhou, Bach met the Governor of Fujian Province and the Secretary of the CPC Xiamen Municipal Committee, Cui Yonghui. They discussed the role of sport in the province, in particular the role of the sports industry, which is one of the economic drivers in the region.
The IOC President also visited the headquarters of the Hengyuanxiang (HYX) Group, which is the IOC’s formal uniform supplier. At HYX, which was founded in 1927 and has a long and rich history, he was hosted by HYX founder Liu Ruiqi and President Chen Zhongwei.
Other meetings the IOC President held were with Quanhai Li, the President of World Sailing; the Vice-President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Yang Yang; and the President of HONAV, Chen Shaoshu.
At a dinner with Chinese artist Fan Yang, the IOC President discussed Fan’s recent works related to the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Fan Yang’s paintings blend traditional Chinese art with contemporary elements and symbols that convey the ideals of Olympism.
Bach also met artists Cui Jingzhe, Li Yansheng and He Jialin, who are all contributing with their work to the historically strong connection between the Olympic Games and culture.
