File photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping inspecting of the Games’ preparatory work. Photo courtesy fmprc.gov.cn
Beijing: The Winter Olympic Villages were officially open to athletes today on the one-week countdown to Beijing 2022. In seven days, the main torch of the Beijing 2022 will be lit in the “Bird’s Nest”, and Beijing will be the first city ever to host both summer and winter editions of the Olympic Games.
The opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics will coincide with the Spring Festival on the Chinese lunar calendar. China hopes that this date with snow and ice will feature a combination of the Olympic spirit and traditional Chinese elements.
“We are fully confident that just like Beijing 2008, this Winter Games will impress the world, and global athletes will shine on the venues…From 2008 to 2022, years have passed, but our passion embodied in “Beijing welcomes you” is unabated, and our sincerity in “See you in Beijing” remains the same,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said today.
The Beijing winter olympic games is mired in controversy following the USA’s criticism of China’s track record on human rights front and particularly genocide” and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang. Many European nations as well as Australia and the USA have decided against sending their diplomatic or official representation to the Games and allowed only their athletes to participate.
However, China said today that the world “supports and looks forward to Winter Olympic Games with more passion as we are moving closer to Beijing 2022”. Lijian further stated that political figures and heads of national Olympic committees from many countries including Russia, Spain, Argentina, Laos and Nigeria have expressed their support for Beijing 2022, and iterated their opposition to “politicization” of sports.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach appreciated China’s efficiency, determination and vitality, and noted that the upcoming Games will be the first time that some countries have ever sent their delegations to Winter Olympic Games.
‘This fully shows the extensive support Beijing 2022 has received from the international community. .. Global media outlets have also expressed their expectation for Beijing 2022,” Lijian said.
On the the country’s major broadcaster China Media Group (CMG) Forum, that commenced yesterday, 145 representatives of media outlets and international organizations from 78 countries and regions had an in-depth discussion on “Together for a High-tech Winter Olympics”, and contributed wisdom to the exchange and mutual learning between peoples of different countries on the Olympic platform.
– global bihari bureau
