On the evening of February 3, the International Olympic Committee held a press conference in the Main Media Center of the Beijing Winter Olympics "Lichun Hall", at which IOC President Bach said that with the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, Beijing will become the first "city of two Olympics" in history.
Bach said at the meeting that more than 2,000 athletes, most media reporters and other relevant personnel have arrived in Beijing, he said: "Beijing is ready, our venues are ready, our Winter Olympic Village is ready, athletes are also ready." ”
Bach said that the holding of the Winter Olympics will officially make Beijing the first "city of two Olympic Games", and more importantly, China has achieved the goal of "300 million people participating in ice and snow sports" during the preparation of this Winter Olympic Games. "As far as I know, there are 346 million Chinese people participating in winter sports, and this level of participation has brought the world's winter sports into a new era, which can change the pattern of global winter sports and related industries," Bach said. ”
The opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics coincided with the traditional Chinese festival "Lichun", and Bach expressed his gratitude to all the Chinese people in the "Lichun Hall" on the evening of February 3, saying: "We are very grateful to the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee and the Chinese people for their efforts, and in the past seven years of preparation, they have given us firm support, which makes me very moved." In the past two days, I have seen on TV that Chinese from all walks of life have welcomed this Winter Olympic Games very much, and regarded it as a very good event during the Spring Festival. They also held many literary and technological activities related to the Beijing Winter Olympics, and many people participated in them, showing the Olympic spirit and showing China's hospitality. As far as I know, the athletes who come to Beijing to compete also enjoy this atmosphere. ”
Bach also said that UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President Shahid of the 76th UN General Assembly will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, in which Shahid will also participate in the torch relay. Bach said that the mission of the Winter Olympics is to unite the whole world, athletes compete in the stadium in a peaceful and fair environment, and build bridges of friendship between each other.
Dolby, director of the Olympic Department of the International Olympic Committee who participated in the press conference with Bach, said that although the new crown epidemic is still a challenge for the world, the Beijing Winter Olympics held in the closed loop are very safe, he said: "The closed loop management is very effective, and thanks to all the people in the closed loop, as long as we abide by the epidemic prevention rules, we can hold a safe Winter Olympics." ”
Source Beijing Daily Client | Reporters Wu Dong, Zhao Xiaosong, and Liu Ping
Intern Editor Zhao Siyao
Process Editor Wu Yue