International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach’s message on the eve of the controversial Winter Games in Beijing would have found favour with the hosts. “China is now a winter sport nation,” he said in what it is hoped will be the positive message from the Games, which open Friday and run to February 20. International boycotts, strict coronavirus rules keeping Olympic participants in a parallel world, human rights issues regarding the Uighurs and the whereabouts of tennis player Peng Shuai can all fade – for now. “We’re writing a new chapter of sports history together,” Bach said …