One of China's veteran sports officials, He Zhenliang, passed away at the age of 85 due to illness last Sunday afternoon in Beijing, China Daily reported.
China is now mourning the loss of the man behind the Olympic bid's success in 2001. They remember him for his significant influence and contribution to the international sports community. The news was confirmed by the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC).
He mainly played the role as one of the key bid-committee executives to win the bid for Beijing for the 2008 Olympics after the Chinese capital's failed first attempt. COC president and vice-president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are among the various high-profile titles he had in his resume.
The late sports diplomat reached the peak of his career on July 31, 2001, at the IOC 112th Session in Moscow, where he headed the Beijing's final presentation for its bid for the 2008 Olympics. The final vote resulted in the city winning as host for the 2008 Olympics.
China's surge in the world of sports was mainly contributed by the triumph of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He had always assisted China in international sports since the 1950s.
Having impressive language skills, he began his career as an international communication official in 1955 at the National Sports Commission. He then worked as a senior official in the 1960s for domestic organizations such as the Chinese Table Tennis Association, the All China Sports Federation and the COC.
He, who became IOC vice-pesident in 1989, dedicated his efforts for China's sports development worldwide. He was also once part of the executive board of IOC in 1985. He communicated with the IOC and other international sports organizations consistently to resolve disputes about the country's unique sports systems and at the same time encouraged the progress of the Olympic Movement in China.
After his death, big sports personalities paid their respective tributes and condolences to the family of the veteran sports diplomat.
"China's current major-member status in the IOC is inseparable from He's hard work for decades. His strong enthusiasm and responsibility to China's sports development as well as improvement of its international image truly impressed me," Wei Jizhong, former secretary-general of the COC and Zhenliang's longtime colleague, told China Daily on Sunday.
Wei recalled that his most unforgettable moment regarding Zhenliang was when he wept privately after Beijing failed in its 1993 Olympic bid for the 2000 Summer Games.
"He said he felt he had let his country and people down, while in fact he'd done what he could to the utmost (to help Beijing as a bid committee member)," Wei said. "He's promotion for Beijing during the first bid and his valuable suggestions the second time played a big part in the success of 2008."
Retired short-track speed skater Yang Yang described him as a guiding light for her career from an exceptional athlete to an international sports executive.
"He's fruitful work in the IOC earned a positive impression from the world about Chinese sports, which inspired me and guided me to continue my career as a sports official," said Yang.
In an official statement by the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee on Sunday, they expressed their mourning for He's death, recognizing his works in leading the Olympic Movement in China. The statement continued by promising to win the 2022 host role as an honor to He.