Dear Athletes,
Together, we are writing a new chapter in the history of sport. Beijing was the first city to host both the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics. The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will usher in a new era of winter sports, with more than 300 million Chinese participating in ice and snow sports. Today, China has become a winter sports power, which will change the global pattern of ice and snow sports from now on.
You are the best ice and snow athletes in the world, and now is the time for you to make history. Our Chinese partners and friends have built such an outstanding Olympic stage that you can show your skills and realize your dreams in first-class venues. There are hundreds of millions of ice and snow sports enthusiasts in China, and you will not only realize your Olympic dreams, but also gain a lot of attention and momentum.
In the days to come, you will fight fiercely for the Olympic honor on the field and live in harmony under the same roof of the Olympic Village. You will send a clear and powerful message to billions of viewers around the world: there is no contradiction between competing for the highest awards and living in peace and respecting each other.
This solidarity is particularly important in today's divided world, which is why the international community has given strong support to the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. The recent united nations general assembly, the unanimous adoption of the Olympic Truce resolution by 193 member states, is the latest example. In the resolution, the member states expressed their "welcome to the athletes of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to play a leading role in promoting peace and understanding for mankind through sport and the Olympic ideals", which is a clear interpretation of the positive role played by athletes.
Your uplifting performances on the field; the unity signals conveyed by the Olympic Games and the support of the international community; China's enthusiasm for ice and snow sports and the hundreds of millions of Chinese ice and snow sports enthusiasts will all push international ice and snow sports to new heights.
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is also a unique opportunity for Chinese to write a new chapter in their country's great history. Broad sports participation can greatly contribute to public health and well-being. The Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games have also brought tangible social and economic benefits to the people of Zhangjiakou and Yanqing, created employment opportunities, and promoted local tourism and business development.
The Olympic Games are the biggest sports stage, and now the world is looking forward to the best athletes from China and around the world. The Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games also tell us that only by uniting can we go faster, aim higher and become stronger. Here, I cordially invite all athletes and all Chinese to share this historic Olympic celebration.
The author is IOC President Thomas Bach
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