Winter Olympics: bust of IOC president Thomas Bach unveiled in Beijing ahead of Games

The former fencer, a polarising figure in world sport, has been immortalised in a ceremony headed by high-ranking organising commitee official Yu Zaiging
His likeness near the Dongsi Community Olympic Park joins that of two previous IOC presidents as well modern Olympics founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin

Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Patrick Blennerhassett

Published: 12:13pm, 20 Jan 2022

Why you can trust SCMP

Thomas Bach has been immortalised in China with Beijing 2022 vice-president Yu Zaiging unveiling a bust of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president.

“The Olympics include not only sport but art and culture,” said Yu, as first reported to state media mouthpiece CCTV during a speech at the official unveiling. “These works fully embody the art and culture of the Olympics.”

The bust of the German was unveiled outside the Dongsi Community Olympic Park in the Dongcheng district, which is close to the Forbidden City in Beijing. The piece is 72 centimetres high and was made by sculptor Yuan Xikun, who has previously done statues of other Olympic figures such as Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games.

Bach recently said he has “definitely” ruled out the cancellation of Beijing 2022 because of issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The international press has been relentless towards Bach and his handling of the past two Games during the global health crisis.

A bust of IOC president Thomas Bach has been unveiled in Beijing before the Winter Olympics. Photo: CCTV

Beijing will employ a “closed-loop management system” for the Games, which means athletes, volunteers and officials will not be allowed outside designated areas and will undergo daily testing, which is part of a long list of requirements in their attempts to keep Covid-19 at bay.

Tokyo 2020 was held under tight restrictions which included no fans at the events. Beijing, though, will be taken to a whole new level when it comes to Covid-19 precautions, including athletes having to quarantine for three weeks upon arrival in China if they are not fully vaccinated.

Thomas Bach said the IOC was “definitely” not cancelling Beijing 2022. Photo: AP

Bach has become a polarising figure over the years since taking over the IOC in September of 2013. He was heavily criticised by the international community for pushing ahead with Tokyo 2020 during the pandemic. However, he is revered in China for his steadfast support of Beijing 2022 despite calls for a boycott of the Winter Olympics owing to China’s alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

At the base of the statue is an inscription that reads the “Ninth President of the International Olympic Committee” followed by Bach’s name written in English and Mandarin.

The park, which was opened to commemorate the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, also features statues of two former IOC presidents, Juan Antonio Samaranch and Jacques Rogge.