The Beijing Winter Olympics will officially open on the 4th of this month, and the United States has sent a delegation of a record 222 athletes to participate, and some athletes have now stayed in the Winter Olympic Villages in Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou. American snowmobile athlete and member of the U.S. delegation to the Beijing Winter Olympics Carlo Waldes is participating in the Winter Olympics for the second time, he said in an interview with the Global Times reporter on the 1st that despite the impact of the epidemic, the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee is trying to provide better accommodation, training and competition conditions for athletes, and the snowmobile track in Yanqing is the best he has ever experienced.
Valdés arrived in Beijing on the 28th of last month and is now staying at the Yanqing Winter Olympic Village. "Although measures such as nucleic acid testing have made it take longer to enter the country, the staff has done a good job and everything is in order," Valdés told the Global Times by phone, Yanqing Winter Olympic Village is also very good, not only the facilities are complete, all the volunteers are also friendly, and their hospitality gives the athletes the best experience.
American snowmobiler Valdez in the Winter Olympic Village of Yanqing
Since the opening of the village on January 27, the meticulous epidemic prevention measures and complete facilities of the Winter Olympic Village have made athletes from all over the world like it, from the beds that can be lifted and lowered to the daily routine nucleic acid testing, many foreign athletes have shared their recognition of the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics and their confidence in their own safety through social media.
"Compared to [the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics], you can see that the organizers are trying to go to the next level and bring a better experience to the athletes," said Valdés, who participated in the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, "Although there are COVID-19 epidemics and related epidemic prevention measures, so far, this (Beijing Winter Olympics) has been a great experience." Valdés also said that although there is no access to spectators and little interaction between the three Winter Olympic villages, athletes can still get a great experience at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
According to the news released by the International Olympic Organizing Committee on the 1st, nearly half of the Athletes of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games have arrived in China and are familiar with 12 competition venues in addition to training. On January 31, Valdés and his teammates also went to the National Bobsleigh Center, a bobsleigh competition venue. "It's the best track I've ever experienced." Valdés commented on the Global Times reporter.
Waldes photographed the National Bobsleigh Center circuit
For the 32-year-old American athlete from California, this is his first visit to China. Although Valdés was unable to visit places like the Great Wall due to closed-loop management, his expectations of China did not diminish. "I definitely want to come back to China, not only Beijing, but I also want to go to Other cities like Shanghai," Waldes said. When the epidemic disappears and everything returns to normal, I hope I can come back to China again as soon as possible. “
Previously, the United States and individual countries tried to launch a so-called "diplomatic boycott" of the Beijing Winter Olympics, but there were few responders, and the United States itself sent a delegation of the largest number of athletes in history to China. Many American athletes like Valdés have publicly expressed their expectations for the Beijing Winter Olympics and shared their good experiences in the Winter Olympic Village on social media from time to time, which shows the international community's opposition to "the United States' attempt to politicize the Olympic Games" .
"Honestly, I'm not really worried about these things (the so-called 'diplomatic boycott'), I'm always concerned about how to perform best in the Beijing Winter Olympics," Valdés told the Global Times, adding that the Olympics are meant to unite the world, put aside differences and cheer for the same thing. Valdés believes that everyone should enjoy the game, and for athletes, it is an opportunity to test the results and win medals after four years of hard training.
On the 4th of this month, Valdés will walk into the Bird's Nest with other American athletes to participate in the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. "Participating in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics for the second time, I hope to have a better experience." Valdés said.