Samaranch Jr.: The Beijing Winter Olympics closed loop is probably the safest place in the world

On July 13, 2001, samaranch, then president of the International Olympic Committee, announced in Moscow that Beijing had won the right to host the 29th Summer Olympic Games in 2008. Years later, Samaranch's son Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. became involved in the preparations for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, serving as Chairman of the IOC's Coordination Committee for the Beijing Winter Olympics. In an exclusive interview with a global times reporter on January 31, Samaranch Jr., who has arrived in Beijing, expressed his full affirmation of the preparations for the Winter Olympics. "In the face of the complex challenges brought by the new crown epidemic, the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee has delivered the same aspects as promised," Samaranch Jr. said, adding that the epidemic prevention measures of the Beijing Winter Olympics are safe and effective, and its closed loop may be "the safest place in the world".

Chairman of the IOC Coordination Committee for the Beijing Winter Olympics, Samaranch

"We are very satisfied with the excellent preparations of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, which gives us full confidence in the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics." Samaranch Jr. told the Global Times reporter. After arriving in Beijing a few weeks ago, Samaranch Jr. visited the venues in Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou and was impressed by the quality of the venue preparations: "We have never had a single doubt about the delivery ability of the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee", Samaranch Jr. said that although the new crown epidemic has made the preparations for the Winter Olympics very complicated, the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee has overcome the crisis with its own ability, "when the world's best athletes stand in the best venues in the history of the Winter Olympics, We will see the most exciting games. ”

"For everyone, the Beijing Winter Olympics will be an extraordinary party and will inspire people in other parts of the world," said Samaranch Jr., who hopes that every athlete will celebrate a community with a shared future for mankind in the spirit of peace and friendship, respect for himself and others.

On January 27, the Winter Olympic Villages of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, Zhangjiakou and Yanqing were officially opened, and athletes from all over the world successively stayed in the Winter Olympic Villages. From the beds that can be lifted and lowered to the daily routine of nucleic acid testing, many foreign athletes have shared their recognition of the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics and their confidence in their safety through social media.

Samaranch Jr. has also entered the closed loop of the Winter Olympics, telling the Global Times reporter that there are currently two Beijings - China's Beijing and the Winter Olympics' Beijing. "The former is under the strict epidemic prevention measures of the Chinese public health department, and in the past two years, it has proved the effectiveness of relevant measures in protecting people's health and economic growth," samaranch jr. said, adding that Beijing for the Winter Olympics is a closed loop and is strictly implementing the provisions in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Olympic and Paralympic Epidemic Prevention Manual.

According to the information released by the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee, from January 23 to January 31, a total of 8,107 Olympic-related personnel entered the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, with a total of 148 positive cases at the airport and 52 positive cases tested positive in the closed loop. Samaranch Jr. believes that the Beijing Winter Olympics require Olympic-related personnel to conduct multiple nucleic acid tests and self-isolation before boarding the flight is an effective way to make the number of positive cases after arriving in Beijing within a controllable range, "The closed loop of the Beijing Winter Olympics is safe and effective, and this may be the safest place in the world." Samaranch Jr. said.

Huang Chun, deputy director of the Epidemic Prevention and Control Office of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, said at the Beijing Winter Olympics press conference on the 1st that based on the current strict management and personal protection measures in the closed loop and frequent nucleic acid testing, although the number of positive cases is increasing, it has not caused the cluster transmission of the epidemic in the closed loop, and the overall situation is within the estimated controllable range. Therefore, media reporters, participating athletes, and the Chinese public do not have to worry too much, and the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee believes that the current epidemic prevention measures are effective, and temporarily do not consider adjusting the entry policy and epidemic prevention measures.

Since Beijing won the right to host the Winter Olympic Games, the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee have always maintained close communication, samaranch jr. has participated in the whole process, and his support for the Beijing Winter Olympics and China's sports industry also stems from his father, Samaranch, who was president of the International Olympic Committee from 1980 to 2001 and personally announced to the world that Beijing won the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games. It can be said that Samaranch father and son helped Beijing complete the feat of "City of Two Olympics".

Referring to the two Olympic Games, which are 14 years apart, Samaranch Jr. told the Global Times that the 2008 Summer Olympics changed the status of Chinese sports in the world and enhanced China's competitiveness in multiple sports. "While we won't see the impact of the Winter Olympics so quickly, a similar shift will happen in the field of winter sports, and the Beijing Winter Olympics will lay the foundation for a bright future for China's winter sports athletes," said Samaranch Jr., who has achieved the goal of "bringing 300 million people to ice and snow sports," and believes That China will soon become a winter sports powerhouse.

One of the features of the Beijing Winter Olympics is the use of the legacy of the 2008 Summer Olympics, such as the water cube becoming the "ice cube" and the Bird's Nest will once again host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. Samaranch believes that the Beijing Winter Olympics will also leave an important Olympic legacy in terms of venues and infrastructure, which proves the great efforts made by Beijing to host this event. "These facilities are not only for the 16-day competition, but will also serve the community for the next three or four decades, which is also an investment and effort for the citizens of Beijing." Samaranch Jr. said.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at least 32 foreign heads of state, heads of government, members of the royal family and heads of international organizations will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 4, demonstrating the support and expectations of the international community for this grand event and opposition to the so-called "diplomatic boycott" launched by individual countries. Samaranch Jr. told the Global Times reporter in an interview that the International Olympic Committee has always insisted that the Olympic Games should not be affected by politics. "If politicians for any reason do not attend the Beijing Winter Olympics, it is their decision, we respect it, but in fact it has zero impact on the quality of the Winter Olympics." Samaranch Jr. said.

This year's Winter Olympics coincided with the Lunar New Year, a large number of staff, logistics support personnel, volunteers, etc. have sacrificed time with their families to contribute to the Winter Olympics, and Samaranch Jr. also expressed his gratitude and blessings, "Thank you very much for sacrificing your personal lives to help so many people realize their beautiful dreams about the Winter Olympics." ”