President of the Tanzania Olympic Committee and Olympic silver medalist Philbert Bai (right). Image source: Tanzania Olympic Committee official Instagram account
The countdown to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is in full swing, and athletes from all over the world are working hard for their dreams. Philbert Bayi, chairman of the Tanzania Olympic Committee and Olympic silver medalist, recently accepted an exclusive interview with People's Daily. Speaking about the Beijing Winter Olympics, he expressed his blessings to all athletes and said: "Boycotting the Olympics will ultimately affect the athletes who have worked hard for four years. ”
Philbert Bai (right) competes as a young man. Courtesy of respondents
"I'm proud of my achievements"
Born in 1953 in a small village near Arusha, Tanzania, Philbert Bay had to run eight miles a day to and from school as a child, which developed his extreme endurance.
In the 1970s, Bay participated in many major sporting events and performed well. He set a world record in the 1500 m at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1974 and the world record for a mile run in 1975. To this day, he remains the holder of the 1500m run record at the Commonwealth Games.
At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Baye won Tanzania's first medal. Recalling this honor, he is still very proud: "At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, I won a silver medal in the 3000-meter steeplechase. I'm very proud of that because this is tanzania's first medal since it came to the Olympics. ”
"It is the athletes who resist the impact of the Olympics"
"Boycotts of big international events like the Olympics are not the first time they have happened." In an interview, Baye mentioned that the Montreal Olympics in Canada in 1976 were boycotted by many African countries for historical reasons. In addition, Bayi remembers the involvement of the United States and other countries in the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
As a former athlete, Bayi could not agree with the boycott of the Olympics. "In the end, it's the athletes who have been preparing for four years that are affected," he said. ”
"I participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games"
"As one of the leaders of the Tanzania Olympic Committee, I was invited by the International Olympic Committee and host Beijing to participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games."
When it comes to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bayi still remembers it vividly. At that time, he recalled, Beijing's infrastructure was completely renovated, and a new Olympic stadium (bird's nest) was built. Although Tanzania failed to win the medal at the Beijing Olympics, he still praised: "Every game exudes a unique charm!"
Although there is no snow or ice, the enthusiasm is not diminished
Tanzania is located near the equator and is hot and humid all year round, with snow covered only at the summit of Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak. Ice and snow sports are strange but extremely attractive to Tanzanites.
Bayi said: "Tanzania has never participated in the Winter Olympics. Due to Tanzania's hot climate, people can't participate in snow sports and can only watch related competitions. "He said it's not just participation that shows a love of sporting events, but tanzanians sitting in front of the TV and watching online also have great enthusiasm for the Winter Olympics." Some fans even want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. ”
At the end of the interview, Bayi also sent his sincere wishes for the Beijing Winter Olympics: "I wish Beijing, the 2022 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, the Chinese government and the International Olympic Committee all the best!"