If memories were awarded medals, Thomas Bach would give China a gold medal every time.

Bach, vice-president of the International Olympic Committee and 1976 Olympic fencing gold medalist, finished his career in Shanghai in 1980. He was in China at the time, rather than defending his medal, because of a boycott, by some countries, of the Moscow Olympics.

"Our Olympic committee (West Germany) voted for a boycott. I was representing the athletes and wanted to take part in the Games. We lost the battle. Now everyone realizes that it was absolutely useless. It did not make one bit of difference at all," Bach, 58, said.