20 May 2024 – On the occasion of the Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach, visited China. Throughout his visit he was accompanied by IOC Members in China, Yu Zaiqing, Li Lingwei and Zhang Hong. Also present was IOC Vice President Ser Miang Ng.

President Bach was welcomed to China by the President of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), Gao Zhidan. Before witnessing the Chinese podium sweep in the women’s event of the BMX freestyle park competition at the Olympic Qualifier Series, the IOC President and the COC President discussed a wide range of Olympic matters including the impact of geopolitical tensions on sport, preparations for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, activities concerning esports and the Olympic Artificial Intelligence (AI) Agenda.

Also with regard to AI, both leaders highlighted the importance of giving equal access to everybody in the Olympic Movement in order to narrow the gap between athletes from privileged and less privileged National Olympic Committees (NOC). This is in line with the Olympic Movement’s principle of non-discrimination and solidarity, which ensures that every NOC, which respects the Olympic Charter, can participate and fully benefit. The COC welcomed the initiatives of the IOC in the field of esports and the need to ensure respect for the Olympic Values. The IOC President invited the COC to participate in the IOC esports commission.

“Shanghai has given the Olympic Qualifier Series a fantastic start. I can only thank and congratulate Shanghai and the Chinese Olympic Committee on this electrifying event. It went far beyond our expectations. Shanghai has demonstrated once again its reputation as a city of innovation, also with regard to global sport events,” said the IOC President (see full story here).

In a meeting with the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Chen Jining, President Bach congratulated him on the success of the Olympic Qualifier Series, which welcomed 45,000 spectators. He thanked him for the efforts of Shanghai to organise the event.

Attending the finals of the Olympic Qualifier Series, the IOC President witnessed the activations of nine Worldwide Olympic Partners: Alibaba, Allianz, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, Mengniu, Omega, P&G, Toyota and Visa. President Bach visited the showcases of the two Chinese partners: Alibaba and Mengniu.

He met Chris Tung, the President of the Alibaba Group, Strategic Development, who showed him the pin Alibaba has developed for the Olympic Qualifier Series as well as the Official Licensed products dedicated to the Olympic Qualifier Series and the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which are on sale on Tmall.

With Gao Fei, CEO of Worldwide Olympic Partner Mengniu, the IOC President discussed the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024, and the Mengniu CEO updated him on the company’s plans for Paris. When visiting the Mengniu showcasing space, the CEO introduced Liao Zhi to the IOC President. Ms Liao is a dancer who wears prostheses and Mengniu’s Ambassador for Perseverance. Ms Liao will attend the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in her function for Mengniu.

The President of China Media Group (CMG), Shen Haixiong, welcomed the IOC President for a visit to their offices in Shanghai. Together, they inaugurated an art exhibition called “From Beijing to Paris – the Olympic Journey of Chinese Artists”, unveiled the logo of CMG for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, launched the new “Morning Sports Programme” of CMG and jointly awarded certificates to the representatives of CMG who will work during the Olympic Games in Paris. CMG will produce, on behalf of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), the international signal for four sports: gymnastics, table tennis, badminton and sport climbing.

The IOC President also paid a visit to the Shanghai headquarters of HYX, which will provide the formal IOC uniforms for Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026. He was welcomed by Chairman Lui Ruiqi, who gave him a tour through the building, which hosts many artefacts and fashion items.

During his stay in Shanghai, the IOC President received an Honorary Professorship from the Shanghai University of Sport. In his acceptance speech President Bach said: “It is this Olympic mission that connects the Olympic community with the Shanghai University of Sport. With your educational mission and holistic approach – the integration of Mind and Body – you are bringing the Olympic values of excellence, respect, peace and solidarity to the next generation of athletes, coaches, sport educators and professionals. Through your work, you are promoting these ideals of sport in society and bringing them to life.”

At the campus of the university, he visited the China Table Tennis College (CTTC) where he met young athletes who are training to become Olympians and top players of the future. He also interacted with an AI table tennis robot and rallied a few balls.

The IOC President also paid a visit to the Institute of Olympic Studies and Research, which belongs to the global network of more than 70 Academic Olympic Studies and Research Centres around the world, managed by the Olympic Studies Centre in Lausanne.

President Bach also hosted a dinner for all IOC Members present in Shanghai and the Presidents of the International Federations involved in the Olympic Qualifier Series: the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the International Federation of Sport Climbing, the World DanceSport Federation and World Skate.

On Chongming Island, the IOC President attended the inauguration of the Shanghai Velodrome, a UCI World Cycling Centre Continental Development Satellite, where he inaugurated the Centre together with the UCI President, IOC Member David Lappartient.

The Shanghai Velodrome will host the 2026 UCI Track World Championships. At the venue the IOC President spoke to a number of the top Chinese track cyclists, who are currently for preparing for Paris 2024.