IOC President Thomas Bach gestures as he speaks during an interview after the historic decision to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games due to the coronavirus pandemic, in Lausanne, Switzerland, on March 25, 2020. (DENIS BALIBOUSE / POOL / AFP)

BEIJING - The preparation for Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games has been going smoothly in terms of both infrastructure construction and operation despite the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said on a teleconference on Thursday.

"The preparations in Beijing continue to go very well," Bach replied to Xinhua. "We will have very soon in the month of June the next Coordination Commission meeting, together with all international winter sports federations. The reports are very good coming from Beijing both from the infrastructure side as well as on the operational side."

The preparations in Beijing continue to go very well

Thomas Bach, President, IOC

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With the Tokyo Olympic Games being postponed to 2021, only half a year is left before Beijing 2022 unveils, and Bach believes it will be an opportunity for all parties, including the Beijing 2022 organizing committee, which will continue to receive advices from the IOC and relevant organizations.

"Beijing will continue to benefit from all the important advices of the IOC, the Olympic Games department and the Coordination Commission. We will also have to see and consider what advantages it may even offer to the organization of Beijing being so close to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, because this will keep and even raise the awareness of the world for the Olympic Games at a very high level," the president said.

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"This applies to everybody, to the organization, to sponsors and partners, to the right holding broadcasters, to many others. There is also an opportunity in this closeness."

Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee released its sustainability plan on Friday, marking an important milestone in preparation for the winter sport extravaganza.