IOC Executive Board visits Greece with eyes on Beijing 2022

The IOC EB made decisions relating to the Beijing 2022 Games and received updates on the preparations.

Change of nationality

The IOC Executive Board decided to approve the change of nationality for one athlete in view of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022:

• Mr Jack GOWER – Alpine Skiing – from Great Britain to Ireland

The IOC EB granted the requested exemption to the three-year waiting period, with the prior agreement from the International Federation (IF) and National Olympic Committees concerned, in accordance with Bye-law 2 to Rule 41 of the Olympic Charter.

Beijing 2022 gets ready for the Olympic Winter Games

With the lighting of the Olympic flame for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 to take place on Monday, a brief update was provided to the IOC EB on the progress of preparations for these Games. This focused on the positive feedback from IFs and athletes about the ongoing test events involving international athletes that are taking place in the Beijing 2022 competition venues.

So far this autumn, the venues for 2022 have hosted a Bobsleigh and Skeleton International Training Period, the Speed Skating China Open, the 2021 Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy and a national test of the Ice Cube curling venue. These events form part of the 10 international competitions, three international training weeks and two domestic test activities that will be organised in eight competition venues across all three Beijing 2022 competition zones – Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou – before the end of the year.

Speaking after the EB meeting, IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell said about the IBSF training period that is happening in Beijing: “It's really pleasing to see the feedback we've had from the international athletes. A lot of these athletes are Olympians; many of them are obviously competing on the international circuit; and the feedback that we've had is unanimously positive regarding the venue itself, the sliding centre, but also the organisation around the Games and their excitement as they build up to participating in Beijing 2022.”

He continued, “We've also completed the speedskating test event, which took place from 8 to 10 October. Three countries - China, Korea and the Netherlands - took part, and again there was very strong positive feedback regarding that new venue as well, with six new track records set and a number of personal records as well, from those high-level international athletes. Other big events are coming up in figure skating, that finishes this weekend with the gala, and then the curling later in October. Then the test event period is completed with a number of ski events in November and December.

McConnell concluded by saying, “We get really strong feedback from the international athletes, that the venues they are experiencing in Beijing are absolutely outstanding; there is a lot of excitement from them, not only regarding their participation at these events, but equally looking forward to their participation in Beijing in just a few months. So, it's great to see their feedback both on the technical side and their personal excitement building up towards these Games.”