Beijing launches Organizing Committee for 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

The Olympic chief praised Beijing's efforts to comply with the reformative Olympic Agenda 2020 and expressed his confidence in the organizers.

"It is impressive how quickly Beijing embraced Olympic Agenda 2020 - our strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement," he said.

"If we continue to work together in this spirit of Olympic Agenda 2020, we can be confident in the success of the Games in 2022," he added.

Bach also said that he was "convinced that the organization of the Games is placed in safe hands".

As second-time Olympic organizers, Beijing enjoys the legacy from the 2008 Olympics which left the iconic "Bird's Nest" national stadium and the "Water Cube" aquatics center. These stadiums will once again become the Olympic venues in 2022.

Eight venues will be built or rebuilt in Zhangjiakou, where most of the snow events will be held.

To link the two cities, the construction of a high-speed railway has already begun and will be fully operational in 2019.

Another legacy from the 2008 Games is a group of experienced staff who now work for Beijing 2022.

However, an open mind to advanced international practices remains with the organizers.

"We will enhance the communication with the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee, further cooperate with the International Federations, and listen to their advice on stadium construction, competition arrangement and talent training," Guo said.

China is seeking to impress the world not only as a good host but also as a sport power.

"We will promote winter sports and develop winter sports industry in a bid to attract 300 million people to ice and snow," said Chinese Olympic Committee President Liu Peng, also Beijing 2022 Executive President.

"In terms of competition, we are going to mobilize the resource all over the nation to achieve excellent results," Liu said.

The launch ceremony was also attended by Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong, Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun and Hebei Governor Zhang Qingwei.