Harbin, China, September 23, 2024: Olympic Council of Asia Vice President Song Luzeng congratulated the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Harbin Asian Winter Games Organising Committee for their timely preparations for the 9th AWG.
Mr. Song, Chair of the OCA Sports Committee, represented the OCA at the opening ceremony of the Chefs de Mission Seminar in the Shangri-La Songbei Hotel on Monday morning.
He said the CDM Seminar was the perfect platform for the National Olympic Committee delegates to check the planning and preparations and to note the key dates in the countdown to the 9th AWG, which will run from February 7-14, 2025.
“Under the guidance and assistance of the OCA and COC, the Harbin Asian Winter Games Organising Committee has overcome the difficulties brought by the short time for Games preparations and has done their utmost to ensure the athletes, officials and all participants have a pleasant and memorable stay in Harbin,” said Mr. Song.
“We are pleased to see that, with the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, HAWGOC has achieved great success. On behalf of the OCA, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the COC and HAWGOC for the great efforts and achievements you have made in the past year.”
Mr. Song also thanked the NOCs for supporting the organising committee with timely and punctual responses to key timelines and stressed that communication was critical in the final stages.
Harbin was awarded the 9th AWG in July 2023 and the CDM Seminar opened with 137 days to go to the opening ceremony.
Speeches were also given by Mr Zhou Jinqiang, Vice President, HAWGOC and COC, and by Mr. Yu Hongtao, Vice President, HAWGOC and Secretary of the CPC Harbin Municipal Committee.
The Chinese officials pointed out that this would be the second time for Harbin to host the AWG after 1996 and that Harbin 2025 would enhance China as a winter sports hub following the success of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.