Write a new chapter - the world's expectations for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 3 (Xinhua) -- Special Article: Writing a New Chapter in the Covenant of Ice and Snow -- The World Expectations for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Yi

In Hungary, a tram painted with local children depicting the vision of the Beijing Winter Olympics shuttled through many famous attractions in the center of the capital Budapest, sending out invitations to the local people to "go to the future together" for the Beijing Winter Olympics;

In Russia, retired military doctor Vladimir Vorobiyov wrote a song specifically for the Beijing Winter Olympics, "White snow covers the vast land, and Beijing looks forward to the Olympic athletes embarking on a journey..."

In Egypt, chinese, English and Arabic languages such as "Beijing Winter Olympics", "Beijing 2022" and the emblem of the Beijing Winter Olympics are projected on the 187-meter-high Cairo Tower.

On February 4, the XXIV Winter Olympic Games will open in Beijing. After more than six years of preparation, China has issued a warm invitation to the world with an open and confident attitude.

The olympic flames of light, unity, friendship, peace and justice are once again ignited in Beijing, and the ice and snow story belonging to China and the Olympics will write a new chapter.

Held safely on schedule to win the trust of the world

The COVID-19 pandemic is still raging around the world, and the challenges facing the Beijing Winter Olympics are obvious. Through a series of precise epidemic prevention measures, Beijing has provided thoughtful volunteer services and professional medical protection, hosted the Winter Olympic Games on schedule, and won the trust and support of the world.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that China, like Russia, has rich experience in organizing large-scale international events, and believes that China will give all necessary guarantees in the process of holding the event, during the stay of the participants, or in the health and safety of athletes and spectators.

Nigerian President Buhari issued a statement saying that China is a good friend and brother of Nigeria, and the Nepalese government and people firmly support China in running the Winter Olympics well. Beijing is the world's first "double Olympic City" to host the Summer Olympic Games and the Winter Olympic Games, and it is believed that the Beijing Winter Olympics will be a wonderful, extraordinary and outstanding Olympic event.

Mustafa Bellaf, president of the Federation of African Olympic Committees, said that with rich experience and talent reserves, the Beijing Winter Olympics will once again amaze the world.

Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Chesnokov, said that China actively promoted the preparatory work and made every effort to ensure that the Beijing Winter Olympics were held smoothly as scheduled, and believed that the Beijing Winter Olympics would be a complete success and create brilliant achievements.

Practice the Olympic spirit and promote exchanges among civilizations

The Beijing Winter Olympics attracted nearly 3,000 athletes from about 90 countries and regions to participate, and some countries will send delegations to attend the Winter Olympics for the first time.

"The Olympic and Paralympic Games send an important message to the world — a message of peace and a message of mutual respect among all cultures, all civilizations and all races." UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, expressed his expectations for the Winter Olympics.

Argentine President Fernandez said that as a sporting event, the importance of the Beijing Winter Olympics to the world is self-evident and contributes to the development of winter sports. The attempt by a few countries to politicize the Beijing Winter Olympics with "political bootlegs" is pointless because the Winter Olympics belong to athletes from all over the world. Argentina will send 6 athletes to compete in the four events of the Beijing Winter Olympics, and he hopes that Argentine athletes can enjoy the joy of the competition.

Paul Tegat, President of the Kenya National Olympic Committee, sent a handwritten congratulatory letter to the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, expressing his confidence in the successful hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, and hoping to take the Beijing Winter Olympics as an opportunity to promote the further development of Kenya-China sports exchanges and cooperation, and look forward to the two sides working together to promote the Olympic spirit and work hard to promote unity and cooperation among all countries.

President Tuvadra of the Central African Republic expressed his strongest support for the Beijing Winter Olympics, saying that the Olympic Games are a sporting event for all mankind and should be avoided from being politicized. Only by adhering to the Olympic spirit of "faster, higher, stronger – more united" can the world be more united.

300 million people write a new chapter in ice and snow sports

According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, since Beijing successfully bid for the Winter Olympics in 2015, 346 million people have participated in ice and snow sports, and the goal of "driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports" proposed during the preparation has changed from a vision to a reality. The realization of this goal is a precious gift from China to the Olympic Movement. The Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games have become an opportunity to promote the leapfrog development of Ice and Snow Sports in China, and ice and snow sports have "flown into the homes of ordinary people".

IOC President Bach said that China has achieved the goal of more than 300 million people participating in ice and snow sports, which is an unprecedented great achievement, a major contribution made by the Winter Olympic Games to the Chinese people and the international Olympic movement, and will also open a new era of global ice and snow sports.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that China has invested huge resources and made many efforts to promote the development of national fitness and sports, including winter sports, and athletes have achieved remarkable results in the olympic games in previous Olympic games. Pakistan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in the field of sports between the two countries and promote the long-term development of ice and snow sports. (Participating reporters: Guo Jun, Wu Tianyu, Li Dongxu, Luo Yu, Liu Yang, Wang Lili, Zhang Yuliang, Hua Di, Jiang Chao, Zou Shuhua, Chen Hao, Wu Dani, Duan Minfu)

Source: Xinhua Net