The British Olympic and Paralympic Associations are the first to be welcomed to Beijing 2022 ©Penny Briscoe/Linkedin

The British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association (BPA) have become the first national governing bodies to be welcomed by the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee.

Director of sport at the BPA, Penny Briscoe, who was the British team's Chef de Mission for the Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Games, was among those to travel to the Chinese capital to meet Games organisers.

Briscoe said: "Impressed with the Organising Committee's plans so far and great to see both new and familiar venues taking shape.

Penny Briscoe has led the British Paralympic team into three Paralympic Games ©Getty Images
Penny Briscoe has led the British Paralympic team into three Paralympic Games ©Getty Images

"Meaningful relationships with Organising Committee colleagues are critical for our planning and delivery and [there have been] huge steps forward already."

Under Briscoe's stewardship, Britain have won 168 Paralympic medals, including 66 golds.

Beijing also hosted the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in 2008.

The city will become the first to host both the Summer and Winter Games.