The Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) held the second session of the Third Council on 9 January 2025. Sima Hong, Deputy Mayor of Beijing and Chairwoman of BODA, delivered a speech at the session. Han Zirong, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Chairwoman of BODA, presided over the session.

(The second session of the Third Council)

The session summarized the work of BODA in 2024 and made a new year plan for 2025. It deliberated and reviewed the overall budget arrangements, the council system, the financial and personnel management systems and the outline of the development plan for carrying on the Olympic legacy. Additionally, Xia Rihong was appointed as Deputy Secretary General of BODA.

(Sima Hong gives a speech)

In her speech, Sima Hong spoke highly of the achievements made by BODA in 2024. She pointed out that the decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality on the development of sports in recent years have put forward new requirements for fully tapping into the dual Olympic legacy. Beijing’s call to create premium sporting event brands and build a system of sporting events has brought new opportunities for BODA to give full play to its platform advantages, strengthen its influence and support the endeavour to build Beijing into a world-class city of sports. After the Beijing 2022 Games, the event economy will continuously drive the integrated development of business, culture, tourism and sports and create new scenarios for leveraging the lasting impact of the Olympic Games. BODA will thoroughly understand the new situation and requirements of Beijing’s development, identify the focus areas of work and exploit Beijing’s advantages as the first and the only city in the world that has hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Moreover, BODA will promote Beijing’s sports industry to make further progress and achieve new results, thus making new and greater contributions to Beijing’s high-quality development.

Sima Hong stressed that 2025 is the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan period and a crucial year for getting off to a good start for the 15th Five-Year Plan, and it also marks the start of BODA’s new journey after the leadership reshuffle. We must follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, apply the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, follow the visions outlined at the Central Economic Work Conference and act in line with the instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on Beijing. According to the arrangements of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, we must forge ahead with enterprise, keep innovating and complete the tasks for 2025 to high standards. First, we will uphold the Party leadership, press ahead in the right direction when carrying on the Olympic legacy, earnestly fulfil the responsibilities of the Council, perform the functions of the BODA Secretariat, work harder to improve Party conduct, build integrity and fight corruption, and strengthen full and rigorous Party self-governance. Second, we will pool strength to serve Beijing’s overall development, make the most of flagship projects, foster new brands of sporting events and cultural activities, steadily promote the Beijing Olympic Museum to participate in the pilot reform of cultural institutions and cultural relics sites, effectively implement the dual Olympic document collation and publication programme and work tirelessly to build Beijing into a world-class city of sports. Third, we will innovate in the systems and mechanisms, give full play to the platform advantages of BODA, effectively integrate the resources and strength of member units, and in particular,  establish a coordination and synergy mechanism with the vice chairs, so as to better integrate Olympic city development with education, culture, sports, business and tourism. We will bring into full play the role of the BODA Olympic Heritage Committee and Sports Committee, adopt new cooperation models and engage in the private sector in the cause of carrying on the Olympic legacy. We will practice economy, actively explore new ways for non-profit  civil society organisations to support public welfare undertakings through market-based operations, and enhance our own capacity for development. Fourth, we will deepen international sports and cultural exchanges, expand channels for Beijing to open itself wider, further consolidate the relations with international sports organisations such as the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, and strengthen exchanges with foreign Olympic city development associations and Olympic legacy organisations. We will expand communication channels to tell the Olympic stories of Beijing and the stories of this “dual Olympic city” and make fresh contributions to facilitating Beijing’s role as a centre for international exchanges.

Also present at the session were Liu Meiying, Deputy Secretary General of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality; Fu Xiaohui, Zhang Qian and Li Yanling, Vice Chairpersons of BODA; and Wang Wenjie, Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors of BODA.