On the morning of 20 February, the Beijing Olympic Museum (BJOM) received a delegation led by Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). They were welcomed by Sima Hong, Deputy Mayor of Beijing Municipality and Chairperson of the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA), Han Zirong, member of the Party Leadership Group of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Chairperson of BODA, and Fu Xiaohui, Director of the Beijing Olympic City Development Centre.

(IOC President Thomas Bach is accompanied by Sima Hong and others)

The visit began with the themed entrance hall, which Thomas Bach described as spectacular. Seeing the embossment wall about the fencing event of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, the president mentioned that he used to be a fencer and the wall brought back fond memories.

Into the Entrance Hall, Bach said that he vividly remembered the Olympic Order in Gold he awarded to Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 on behalf of the IOC.

(IOC President Thomas Bach looks at the Olympic Order in Gold in the Entrance Hall)

He also recalled the Beijing 2022 Olympic torch autographed by him.

(IOC President Thomas Bach stands in front of the Beijing 2022 Olympic torch)

The president appreciated exhibits in the exhibition zone presenting the process of bidding, organising and hosting the Beijing 2022 Games, reminiscing about his experiences working closely with the organising committee.

(IOC President Thomas Bach and BJOM Director Hou Ming)

Bach showed great interest in the architectural models of Olympic venues in the three competition zones. He spoke the name of each competition venue and the relevant sports, recalling details during the preparation and hosting of the Beijing 2022 Games.

(IOC President Thomas Bach watches the models of Olympic venues)

Bach then came to the zone featuring the Beijing eight-minute show at the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. He looked in admiration at the costumes of panda puppets worn by performers at the show, praising China for integrating traditional culture and modern technology.

(IOC President Thomas Bach admires the costumes of panda puppets)

In front of the Beijing 2022 Olympic torch display case, Sima Hong introduced the design concepts and highlights of the torch to Thomas Bach.

(Sima Hong introduces the torch to IOC President Thomas Bach)

When the highlight video of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics played, Bach showed his appreciation as cherished memories came flooding back. Fu Xiaohui introduced the video, saying that it is a popular spot among visitors.

In front of the podium of the Beijing 2022 Games, Bach saw volunteers taking photos for young visitors. He spoke to the  youngsters, asking about their favourite Olympic events and sports they are good at, and encouraged them to keep practicing so they might stand on the Olympic podium to accept medals one day.

(IOC President Thomas Bach engages with volunteers)

The Tribute to the Champions was highly commended by Bach for using innovative digital means.

In the display zone of the Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival, Bach checked out the medals awarded by BODA to young athletes participating in the Little Triathlete.

With great enthusiasm, he joined the teenagers in a table tennis simulation in the museum’s interactive game zone.

The visit coincided with a group of students participating in an Olympic themed study programme, which draw great interest from the visiting IOC President. The children eagerly approached him to greet him in English and presented him with adorable handmade snake-shaped pouches showcasing traditional Chinese culture. Bach conversed with the children and shared that the Year of the Snake is his zodiac year. Bach expressed his great joy and pride as so many young people were involved in the Olympic education programme.

(IOC President Thomas Bach and the students participating in the study programme)

After the visit, Sima Hong offered the IOC President a commemorative pin of the Beijing Olympic Museum, and the president gave a gift in return.

(IOC President Thomas Bach holds the gift with Sima Hong)

Bach left a heartfelt message in the guestbook for the Beijing Olympic Museum. “Thank you very much to the Beijing Olympic Museum for keeping the Olympic Spirit alive and inspiring all generations of Chinese people,” he wrote.

(IOC President Thomas Bach writes a message in the guestbook)

The  IOC steward also autographed the official poster of the Beijing 2022 Games, the official poster of the Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics, the Beijing 2022 Olympic torch and the commemorative tickets for the opening of the Beijing Olympic Museum.

Bach told reporters after the visit,“It’s great to be back here in the Olympic Museum and to revive so many fond memories of Beijing 2022 and also Beijing 2008. These were two truly exceptional Olympic Games China offered to the world. Here, you can feel this spirit in this museum because it brings all these memories to life. It brings the Olympic spirit to life. And you can see how it is inspiring the young generation but also the older generation like me.”

“Beijing can be very proud of being the one and only city of having organised Olympic Winter Games and Summer Games,” Bach remarked, adding that the country can be proud of having the museum. “The legacy of the Olympic Games is working. After these Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, winter sport has become so popular in China that we can speak worldwide of a winter sport before Beijing 2022, and much better winter sport after these Olympic Winter Games. And this is what a legacy is about that the future generations can benefit from the Olympic Games. And this is an extraordinary display of that here in China.”

(IOC President Thomas Bach takes an interview)