The updated emblem for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games was released on Saturday to match the new Paralympic symbol that was refreshed in October 2019. 

After consultation with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Beijing 2022 redrew and re-colored its Paralympics emblem "Flying High" to keep in line with the new Paralympic symbol "Agitos," and the words "PARALYMPIC GAMES" were removed from the original design. 

"With brighter color and more dynamic shapes, the new emblem now looks more vigorous," said Lin Cunzhen, designer of the Beijing 2022 emblems. 

Lin, who now works for the Culture and Ceremonies Department of the Beijing 2022 organizing committee, emphasized that the removal of the words "PARALYMPIC GAMES" is a big step for the Games. 

"It has been nearly 20 years since Beijing won the bid for the 2008 Games. Chinese people have developed a deep understanding about the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Winter Games," Lin said. 

"After removing the two words, the emblem becomes simpler, which makes it more applicable on designs, including apparel and licensed products," she added. 

Moreover, "PARALYMPIC GAMES" did not appear on the sole emblem for Paris 2024 or the ever-changing logo for Los Angeles 2028 launched earlier this month. 

At the same time, Yang Jinkui, director of Beijing 2022's Paralympic Games Integration Department, said preparation work is going smooth for the Paralympics.

The Paralympics will run from March 4 to 13, 2022, with 78 gold medals for 78 events. It will be held in the urban area of Beijing, Yanqing District as well as Zhangjiakou in neighboring Hebei Province.

From this December, test events will be held ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi said on Sunday that the International Olympic Committee are "carefully optimistic" about Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 which can proceed in good order despite the disruption caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

(With input from Xinhua)