The Shanghai University of Sport (SUS) awarded an honorary professorship to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach in a grand ceremony on Sunday (May 19).

In his keynote speech, Bach praised SUS for its significant contributions to sports, particularly highlighting the successful launch of the ongoing Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai.

He commended the university for its role in Chinese sports history, academic achievements, and promotion of Olympic values, encapsulated in its motto "Integration of Mind and Body, Inclusive and Competitive".

Bach also expressed optimism about future collaborations between the IOC and SUS to promote sports values, peace, friendship and unity globally.

Citing the philosophy of the founder of the International Olympic Committee of Pierre de Coubertin, Bach noted "the Olympic Games were much more than just a sporting event".

"When he revived the Olympic Games in 1894, he saw it as a way to promote greater understanding among all nations and people of the world. He was an educator himself. So from the very beginning, sport and education were linked to the Olympic Games," said Bach.

Following the ceremony, Bach toured the China Table Tennis College's training hall and the Institute of Olympic Studies and Research at SUS. At the training hall, he observed young athletes training with robots and participated in a practice session.

At the Olympic research institute, he attended an Olympic values education session where Olympic champion Zhong Tianshi shared her journey of winning China's first Olympic gold in track cycling.

SUS chancellor Li Yin emphasized the importance of advancing the Olympic movement and promoting the Olympic spirit as part of building a world-class sports university. He highlighted SUS's historical contributions, including those of Zhang Huilan, the first female with a PhD in Chinese sports and a former vice president of the Chinese Olympic Committee.

Established in June 2021 with IOC approval, the Institute of Olympic Studies and Research at SUS has become a key platform for Olympic research and education. It has published numerous papers in top sports journals, produced significant academic works and received grants for advanced research projects.