Head of the Portuguese delegation: For the Olympic spirit, the Beijing Winter Olympics will "attract the world's attention"

【Global Times-Global Network Report Reporter Xing Xiaojing Zhao Yusha】 The countdown to the Beijing Winter Olympics is one week, and delegations from various countries have arrived in Beijing one after another. Pedro Faromba, president of the Portuguese Winter Sports Federation and head of the Portuguese delegation to the Beijing Winter Olympics, said in an exclusive interview with the Global Times reporter a few days ago that participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics is a major event, and the Portuguese delegation is coming for the Olympic spirit, looking forward to athletes to achieve more than ever before and show Portugal's style in winter sports. Faromba also said that the Chinese government, the Chinese people and the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee have made great efforts to successfully host the Winter Olympic Games, and we can feel the Chinese people's enthusiastic expectations for hosting the Winter Olympics in their own country, and the Beijing Winter Olympics will "attract the world's attention."

(Pictured is Pedro Faromba, president of the Portuguese Winter Sports Federation and head of the Portuguese delegation to the Beijing Winter Olympics.) The image originates from the internet. ）

"Our participation in the Beijing Winter Olympics is a big deal," Faromba, who also served as the head of the Portuguese delegation to the Sochi Winter Olympics and the Pingchang Winter Olympics, told the Global Times that the Portuguese delegation had 9 members, including 3 athletes. This is also the first time that the country has three athletes participating in three events, two of whom compete in the alpine skiing competition in the men's and women's categories, and one in cross-country skiing. It is reported that this is also the largest Winter Olympic delegation in the history of Portugal.

Faromba told the Global Times reporter that hosting the meeting during the epidemic is a major feature of this Year's Beijing Winter Olympics. Since about a year ago, the Portuguese side has been communicating with the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee. Three athletes from Portugal, currently in training in Norway, Italy and France, will return to Portugal this weekend with their coaches, planning to travel to Beijing with the group next Tuesday morning. Faromba said athletes who would inevitably come into contact with people on their way back to Portugal at airports in various countries would undergo nucleic acid testing before their trip. After arriving in China and entering the closed loop, there will be no problems, and they will strictly abide by the epidemic prevention measures.

According to media reports, some European athletes are worried that bringing electronic devices such as mobile phones to Beijing will be monitored. "We don't have any concerns about that," Faromba told the Global Times, "some of the news 'made' by the media doesn't match the facts, we're here for the Olympic spirit, and we're going to focus on sports and not on something else." ”

In the interview, Faromba also introduced the situation of winter sports in Portugal, telling the Global Times reporter that Portugal is a beach country and a "football kingdom", and winter sports are short boards. There is only one mountain in Portugal that can be skied, and that is a very small ski slope, which is only suitable for beginners. Therefore, Portuguese athletes must go abroad to train and compete in order to improve their level.

The head of the Portuguese delegation said that in fact, the Portuguese have been skiing since 100 years ago, and the country has also been committed to the development of ice and snow sports in recent years. Athletes are expected to achieve more results at the Beijing Winter Olympics and show Portugal's style in winter sports.

Faromba also expressed some regrets, he believes that due to the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, there is no audience to watch the game, the Olympic delegations of various countries are in a closed loop, and there is a lack of communication and interaction with the Chinese people. However, Faromba stressed that "we must adapt to the times we live in and hope that the epidemic will subside soon." ”