BEIJING -- International Olympic Comittee President Thomas Bach gave a thumbs-up to the world athletics championships, hailing it as "a great event".

"The tournament's going to be with volunteers and you are doing so much for the Olympic Games," said Bach at the Volunteers' Home at the National Stadium that will host the 2022 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.

Beijing, along with neigboring Zhangjiakou, won the bid to host the 2022 Games on July 31, beating Almaty, Kazakhstan, 44-40.

"It will be a great Olympic Games here in Beijing," said Bach when volunteers were taking selfies with him.

Bach had a tour of Olympic venues in Chongli County of Zhangjiakou early in the day.