China's Yu Zaiqing elected as IOC honorary member

China's Yu Zaiqing, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and Vice-President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, has been elected as an honorary member of the IOC in Greece.

A member of the IOC since 2000, Yu has held the position of Vice-President during two terms, from 2008 to 2012 and again from 2014 to 2022. As his tenure concludes at the end of this year, Yu's election as an honorary member comes alongside the prestigious Olympic Order. In his acceptance speech, the 73-year-old veteran emphasized that this recognition is not solely for him but also reflects China's significant contributions to the Olympic movement.

"While the Olympic Order is formally bestowed upon me, it also acknowledges China's contributions to the Olympic movement," said Yu. "We successfully hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics, the 2022 Winter Olympics, and the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Organizing the Olympics is the greatest contribution we can make to the IOC and the Olympic movement. Therefore, this award not only recognizes my efforts but also honors our country."