(Yicai Global) Aug. 20 -- Swedish teaching and training agency EF Education First will be the exclusive supplier of language coaching at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympic Games.

The deal is conducive to improving organizers' language skills and broadening their international perspective, Yan Cheng, head of human resources for the Chinese Olympic Committee, said at a press briefing today.

The COC will run 99 professional training programs for staff, volunteers and technical officers, Yan added, saying the committee has compiled a series of teaching materials and set up coaching camps to offer learning support for the 2022 Winter Games.

Founded in 1965, EF's primary offering is overseas study, tourism and cultural exchange programs with language training -- mostly in English. It has worked with seven Olympic Games so far, including Beijing 2008, the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, and the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The 2022 Beijing Winter Games now has nine official partners, including Bank of China and Air China, five official sponsors and one official exclusive supplier. The event will taje place in Beijing and nearby Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, in February 2022.

Editor: James Boynton