He Zhenliang, China’s Mr Olympics, dies
Print Edition
CHINA’S former IOC member He Zhenliang, who was instrumental in Beijing’s successful bid for the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, died yesterday.
He, who was 85, died at a hospital in Beijing yesterday afternoon, his family told Xinhua news agency.
Born on December 29, 1929, in Wuxi in Jiangsu Province, He did his early schooling in Shanghai at a missionary school run by a Catholic church. From 1946-1950, he studied electric mechanics at the Aurora University in the city.
Known as China’s Mr Olympics, He was elected to the International Olympic Committee in 1981. In 1985, he was elected to the IOC executive board, and served three 5-year terms since then. With Juan Antonio Samaranch’s recommendation, He was elected IOC vice president in 1989.
He’s selfless and untiring efforts finally bore fruit in 2001 when China won the rights to stage the first-ever Olympics in 2008 after losing the 2000 Games by just two votes.
Proficient in both English and French, He strived hard to put China’s case to the world, highlighting the country’s massive development after the reforms and opening-up.
So deep was the emotion that when Samaranch announced the winning bid for the 2008 Games in Moscow, beating Toronto, Paris, Istanbul and Osaka, he broke down in tears.
“I’m proud of my country, I’m proud of my people,” he said immediately after the vote was announced.
As a Chinese IOC member, he acted as a bridge connecting Chinese sport with the rest of the world. He spoke of the difficulties in convincing the outside world of how much China had changed.
“They always look at China from an old angle, an old view,” He had said then.
“But according to new IOC rules, we couldn’t invite IOC members to China. So the only way was to send them VCDs and magazines. We (also) invited the sports press, which is more objective, to come to China. This strategy was very useful.”
He’s death comes at a time when Beijing is making another bid at Olympics — the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
Wang Hui, vice secretary of Beijing Winter Olympics Bidding Committee, spoke of He’s great achievement. “Hosting the 2022 winter Olympics is He’s wish and we will make all effort to make his dream come true,” Wang said yesterday.
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