The Sino-Greek Conference on Dialogue among Civilizations was held in Beijing to explain the Olympic spirit

On the morning of January 1, the Department of Literature and History of the National School of Administration, the Research Center for Classical Civilization of Chinese University, Beijing Sport University and Civilization Magazine jointly held an academic conference entitled "Civilization, Peace and Friendship -- Spiritual Dialogue between Chinese Civilization and Ancient Greek Civilization" in Beijing. The meeting elaborated in depth the integration and commonality of the two ancient civilizations, gave a richer and deeper connotation to the Olympic spirit, and also issued a rational and peaceful voice for enhancing dialogue, understanding and unity between different countries, regions and organizations in conflict and confrontation, and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

In his opening speech, The Press Counsellor of the Greek Embassy in China, Haenfort, clearly interpreted the Olympic spirit. He said that the holding of the Beijing Winter Olympics will once again remind people of the immutable significance of the Olympic spirit. "We can sum up this Olympic spirit in ancient Greek, that is, a healthy body breeds a healthy spirit (νους υγιής εν σώματι υγιεί )! This fusion of body and spirit, nature and supernatural, heaven and earth, just as the Chinese tradition emphasizes heaven, earth and man, embodies the core values of the Olympic spirit. We must understand the slogan of the modern Olympic Games: 'Faster, higher, stronger and more united'. Without unity, everything else will lose its meaning! ”

Professor Cao Weidong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Sport University, pointed out in his speech that peace and friendship are the core values of the Olympic Movement, and also the humanistic spirit of Chinese civilization and ancient Greek civilization. "Both the ancient Greek civilization and the Chinese civilization attach great importance to sports. The Olympic Movement originated in ancient Greece, and the Olympic Games have become the world's largest and most influential sports event, forming the Olympic spirit of 'unity and fraternity, fair competition and mutual understanding'. Ancient China also attached great importance to sports, and in the aristocratic education system established by the Zhou Dynasty, it included six skills of 'ceremony, music, shooting, imperial, book, and counting', of which 'shooting' and 'imperial' belonged to physical education. Traditional Chinese sports have moved towards the development path of ethical sports that permeates with medical treatment, health care, health care, etc., and the idea of 'noble monks' contained in it is in line with the spirit of the Olympic motto 'more unity'. ”

Haenfu, press counsellor at the Greek Embassy in China, said the Beijing Winter Olympics will be held in the spring of 2022, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and China. Greece and China have a deep tradition of friendship and will continue to expand cooperation in various fields in the future. "Before the outbreak of the epidemic, our two countries were already very close. Prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, china invited Greece to hold the Year of Greek Culture in Beijing. In 2017, Greece and China successfully held the Year of Cultural Exchange and Cultural Industry Cooperation. In the same year, China enthusiastically supported the Greek government's initiative to establish a forum of ancient civilizations in Athens. In August 2018, two foreign ministers from Greece and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Belt and Road cooperation in Beijing. The areas of cooperation under the Memorandum include cultural, scientific, educational, sports, and humanistic cooperation and exchanges. A few months ago, the Greek Chinese and Tourism Year opened in Athens to promote bilateral relations between the people and governments of the two countries in the post-epidemic era. ”

At the academic conference held on the same day, Lou Xiaoqi, president of Civilization magazine, also read the preface of Greek President Sacraopoulu for the upcoming "Olympic Culture Volume III." In the article, Sacraoplu said that "the Olympic spirit is like a North Star" and called on countries and international organizations around the world to work together to overcome difficulties.