Beijing has visually enhanced its preparation for a successful Winter Olympics in 2022 by unveiling official Games emblems with rich metaphoric meaning Friday.

Amid cheers and applause at the National Aquatics Center, Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli, Yu Zaiqing, a vice-president of IOC and Zhang Hong, China's Olympic speed skating champion, unveiled the emblem for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at 20:22, presenting the most anticipated Beijing 2022 logo to the world at the iconic 2008 Summer Olympics venue.

The emblem, called "Winter Dream", features a variant illustration of the Chinese character for winter, dong (冬), that resembles images of skating and skiing athletes rendered by flowing curves symbolizing mountain ranges and snow courses. Below the pattern are the words "BEIJING 2022" written in traditional Chinese calligraphy.

The emblem was designed by a group led by Lin Cunzhen, an associate professor at China Central Academy of Fine Arts, and was selected from 4,506 entries contributed by designers from home and abroad.

"The emblem offers a unique integration of profound Chinese culture, international style and characteristics of winter sports," said Cai Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Games. "It illustrates the ardent expectations of 1.3 billion Chinese people for the winter sports gala."

The emblem for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games was unveiled later by Vice-Premier Liu Yandong, Cai and Zhang Qiang, China's Paralympic curling player.

Inspired by Chinese character fei, which means “to fly”, the design embodies the strong determination of para-athletes to conquer physical impairments for athletic excellence.

IOC President Thomas Bach, who sent a video message to celebrate the moment, gave high remarks to the new emblems.

"The unveiling of the emblem is a milestone on the exciting journey for China and the entire Olympic Family. This emblem is the symbol of ambitions and dreams. It will build the excitement and anticipation in China and around the world for our shared expectations for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022," Bach said in the message.

A worldwide contest for emblem designs was launched July 31, 2016 to mark the one-year anniversary of the Chinese capital winning the rights to host the Games. After that historic moment, Beijing is poised to become the first city in the world to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

The Beijing 2022 organizing committee, as copyright holder of the logos, will soon launch its official merchandising program. Commemorative stamps with the emblems are scheduled to be released Dec 31 by China Post, and about 10 official merchandising outlets are expected to open in mid-January.