The Chinese Olympic Committee has officially opened an office in Lausanne, Switzerland, the home of the Olympic Movement on Friday, December 7, attended by the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, the Chinese Olympic Committee President and General Administration of Sport of China Director Gou Zhongwen, IOC Vice-President Yu Zaiqing and IOC member in China and Vice-President of the COC, Li Lingwei. 

As the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games fast approaches, the opening of these offices in Lausanne is considered as a move to bring closer the collaboration and communication between the IOC and COC, between the COC and the various International Federations and sports organizations and for China to have more involvement in the international sports world. 

President Bach said: "The preparations for the Olympic Winter Games will be even more smooth with the opening of these offices. You have created the opportunity to speak directly and daily with the IOC and the many International Federations based here." 

Mr Gou added: “The setting up of this office will strengthen the close relationship with the IOC and lead to better cooperation with the locally based International Federations, helping Chinese sport to grow internationally.”

Apart from the International Olympic Committee, more than 40 International Federations and sports organizations take Lausanne as their home. 

At the beginning of November, Beijing was also announced as the host of SportAccord 2020, the annual top class sports international conference where all IFs and associate members attend. 

Reference: www.gov.cn 

Proofread by Raymond Fitzpatrick