The ISO 20121 standard achieved by the organizing committee of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, which was the first event organizer in China that has been awarded this way, is a clear testimony of Beijing's commitment to a sustainable event, IOC President Thomas Bach said Thursday.

The ISO 20121 standard was inspired by the Olympic Games London 2012, which aimed to ensure that events manage and control their potential social, economic and environmental impact, and leave behind a positive sustainable legacy.

As one of the first signatories to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, Beijing 2022 has integrated sustainability across its operations, including areas such as waste management, energy efficiency and carbon management.

According to Juan Antonio Samaranch, chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Beijing 2022, the certification not only "sends a strong message about not only Beijing 2022's commitment to sustainability, but also China's commitment," as it laid the "groundwork for many other events to come in China, be that sporting events or any other events."

Also on Thursday, the United Nations designated International Volunteer Day, the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 started its global volunteer recruitment program. Citing the Tokyo 2020 as a successful example of recruiting volunteers worldwide, Bach said he is confident that the Beijing winter games will too have a wide international response.

Bach's remarks on Beijing came at a press briefing following three days of IOC executive board meeting beginning on Tuesday. The meeting has approved that Sapporo Odori Park, 800 km to the north of Tokyo, will be the venue for the marathon and race walk events.

As part of the heat measures, the Japanese organizers have also decided to bring forward the start times of the triathlon and equestrian eventing (cross-country) events in Tokyo. The triathlon individual events will start at 6:30 am instead of 7:30 am, and the mixed relay at 7:30 am instead of 8:30 am; the start time for equestrian eventing (cross-country) will move from 8:30 am to between 7:30 am and 8 am.