President Xi Jinping sent a letter of appreciation to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Friday evening, expressing thanks to the IOC for its trust and support in selecting Beijing, together with Zhangjiakou, as the host of the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

"Today, Beijing, together with Zhangjiakou, has won the bid to host the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Let me extend, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, our appreciation to the IOC for its trust and strong support over the years," Xi said in the letter.

"To present a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Winter Olympics is the aspiration of over 1.3 billion Chinese people. We will fulfill all our commitments and witness, together with the people of all other countries and the IOC, the advent of a new phase in the development of Olympic winter sports and in the spread of the Olympic spirit," Xi said.

"The Chinese government and people will implement in good faith the Olympic Agenda 2020, create a new record for the same city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, and make new contributions to the advancement of the Olympic spirit."

Olympic Agenda 2020 is a strategic road map for the future of the Olympic Movement, shifting the Games to an "event-based" program rather than sports-based, with greater flexibility that allows a wider scope for those countries and cities wanting to stage the Games. The road map was voted on by the full IOC membership at the 127th IOC Session in December in Monaco.

(China Daily 08/01/2015 page1)