BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach congratulated Xinhua Sports News Department on its 40th anniversary via video, saying that Xinhua has become a global media leader in Olympic news.
"As you celebrate your 40th anniversary, I would like to congratulate everyone at Xinhua Sports on this important milestone. You have every reason to look back with great pride over the past 40 years," said Bach.
"During this time, Xinhua Sports has evolved from humble beginnings in 1980, to an international news agency with a truly global reach today.
"Since your foundation, you have also established yourself as a global media leader for news about the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement."
In 2008, during the Beijing Olympics, Xinhua was authorized by the IOC to become the host news agency and the NOPP. And on January 30, 2019, Bach visited Xinhua and announced that Xinhua has become an International News Agency recognized by the IOC.
"All this is a testament to your strong standing in the international media landscape," Bach commented.
"Xinhua's reporting goes well beyond the latest results and scores on the field of play. You regularly highlight the many stories off the field of play as well, whether explaining the complexities of organizing Olympic Games, analyzing post-Games legacies, or putting the spotlight on the important social role of sport to improve our everyday lives.
"With your comprehensive reporting on so many aspects of sport, we are also deepening the understanding of the overarching mission of the IOC: to make the world a better place through sport," the IOC chief stated.
The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place in Paris, and Bach noted that the anniversary of Xinhua Sports was at a very auspicious time at the start of the Olympic year.
"Xinhua's own preparations for Paris are already in full swing, and it is great to see you are fully living up to your leadership role by dedicating a team of over 200 journalists to cover this Olympic Games of a new era. Just like the athletes, all of you, the dedicated team of Xinhua Sports continue to demonstrate our new Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together."
Bach said it might not be a coincidence that the birthdays of both Xinhua Sports and Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, are on January 1.
"Over 100 years ago, our founder Pierre De Coubertin contributed countless articles to dozens of publications, laying the groundwork for the great tradition of Olympic journalism. Knowing that Pierre De Coubertin shares not only the same birthday, but also the same passion for Olympic journalism as you, Xinhua Sports," he added.
At the end of the video, Bach wished Xinhua Sports all the best for the next 40 years and beyond, adding in Chinese, "Congratulations to Xinhua Sports!"
In 1979, China resumed its legitimate seat at the International Olympic Committee. The following year, Xinhua News Agency dispatched reporters to cover the Lake Placid Winter Olympics.
To better coordinate international and domestic sports reporting and enhance its influence in sports reporting, Xinhua established the Sports News Department on January 1, 1984. In the same year, a team of 30 reporters was sent to cover the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Since then, Xinhua has sent reporting teams to cover every Olympic Summer and Winter Games.
Xinhua will send a team of over 200 reporters and photographers to cover the Paris 2024 Olympics. ■
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