The following is a summary of the interview
In this day and age, the Olympics may be needed more than ever
On December 6, 2021, less than 60 days after the opening of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, we interviewed Yang Yang, an old friend of "Celebrity Face to Face" and a key figure in the history of the Chinese Winter Olympics, in Shanghai.
△ Yang Yang
As the Beijing Winter Olympics approaching, Yang Yang, as the chairman of the Athletes Committee of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, has to deal with interviews and shootings from various media every day, participate in large and small work meetings, and must not be idle for a moment, always maintaining a sprint state that is about to slide towards the finish line of the "Beijing Winter Olympics".
Tagawa: It's coming to the Winter Olympics soon, especially in the context of the epidemic, everyone is looking forward to the Winter Olympics in a lot of uncertain conditions, and many people are worried about the hosting of the Winter Olympics. Whether from an individual point of view or from an organizational point of view, what do you think is the necessity of hosting the Winter Olympics in view of the current global state?
Yang Yang: Because the Tokyo Olympics have already been held, and they were also held under very great pressure. From the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee to the international sports world, everyone has made great efforts. As far as Beijing is concerned, we have promised the world from the beginning that we will do our best to ensure the smooth running of the Winter Olympics. From the perspective of the international community, especially our called the Olympic family, everyone is also this goal. In the past few months of work, it can be felt that sports organizations such as international sports organizations, the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency and other related sports organizations are doing their best to ensure that the Winter Olympic Games can be carried out smoothly.
"Go all out to ensure the smooth progress of the Winter Olympics", similar words, Yang Yang wants to say countless times a day, saying that the media and cameras of the global 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are always paying attention to, and also to herself. In Yang Yang's heart, "go all out" is not an empty slogan, but something she has done and firmly believed in with all her strength over the years.
In his 23-year athletic career, Yang Yang has won 59 world championships, making him the Chinese athlete with the most world championship titles. From China's first IOC member elected as an athlete, to the first ever elected female speed skating director, to the current athletes' committee chairman of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, and vice president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Yang Yang has never left the ice and snow and the Olympics.
△ In 2015, Yang Yang participated in the bid for the Beijing Winter Olympics
In 2022, the host city of the Winter Olympics will be Beijing. In 2015, Yang Yang, who was seven months pregnant, insisted on participating in the bid for the Beijing Winter Olympics, and at the scene of the olympic bid, he wore a light blue suit and made a delicate statement, which left a deep impression on people.
Yang Yang: The Olympics is like a belief to me, and you believe that it can really affect the world in many ways, affect society, affect people's development and growth. A lot of people say my role seems to change a lot, but in reality I've never left sports. Many people say, Yang Yang, you are always full of enthusiasm, I said that it may be because I believe in the power of the Olympics, so it will also bring me strength.
I think the current era of division may need the Olympics more than ever. In its prime, I felt that the Olympics were more like a big party, which brought everyone together to celebrate. Every country will show its coolest technology, the most advanced technology, through the Olympic Games. But in this divisive era, in the era of the shadow of the epidemic, I think it is more necessary to have determination and perseverance to hold the Olympic Games and bring everyone together. At this time, the determination of athletes to overcome so many difficulties can arouse people's empathy even more.
Yang Yang: In fact, at present, to various extents, everyone is still relatively depressed, and may even be passing through a very difficult period. In fact, the spirit of athletes working the field can really inspire many people. It's really not easy for athletes to stick to today, and overcoming those difficulties on the field and winning the final victory, or they can finally finish the game, can really inspire a lot of people. Sometimes in our lives, we just lack that little encouragement.
I think that whether it is the Olympics or athletes, it is already remarkable that they can open up some ideas and bring inspiration to people in this era.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge for athletes preparing for the Olympic Games, for host countries and for all staff serving in the Winter Olympics.
Yang Yang: When I was an athlete, I did not experience such a special situation as the global epidemic. But as I prepared for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, USA, I experienced the shadow of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I remember in September 2001, after one of our training sessions, the news of the 9/11 terrorist attacks came out. At that time, the pressure to prepare for the war was very high, and the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics suddenly faced a lot of uncertainty, and it was likely to become a target of terrorism... There are all sorts of rumors. For us, we are very insecure inside, and the goal we have worked hard for four years seems to become very vague and uncertain. I remember that my teammates also wrote a suicide note, saying that I still had a little savings and had to stay, etc., and there was really such a thing happening. But I didn't seem to change my determination to go, and I didn't feel like it at the time, as if it should be like that. But now as an ordinary person looking back at myself at that time, how can I have such a big determination? Not only myself, but also the entire Chinese delegation at that time, so I especially understand the athletes who are preparing for the competition now.
And because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the procedures in various aspects such as visas before we went were more complicated than before. I remember when I arrived in Salt Lake City, there were checks everywhere, there were police dogs, and the atmosphere was very tense. But you feel, it seems that the more you do this, the safer it seems. You seem to be fighting terrorism, as if you're going to be a little more determined.
So I think of the athletes who are preparing for the epidemic now, and I believe that they are very difficult to ensure training and keep playing. And they are fighting against an invisible enemy. But I believe that the determination is the same for everyone.
At the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Yang Yang won consecutive championships in the women's 500 meters and 1000 meters of short track speed skating, achieving a "zero breakthrough" for China's winter Olympic gold medal. Yang Yang said that fear does not weaken dreams, but makes dreams more firm. Terrorism has not prevented us from chasing our dreams, nor has it the right to take away everyone's right to participate in the Olympic Games.
Yang Yang: I have always felt that the Olympics have a history of hundreds of years, and it has experienced many difficulties, including wars, epidemics, and various challenges. But none of them have stopped our determination to achieve our good wishes, and that determination is important. So I think in the current situation, even if I am not an athlete, I still have to appeal, and I still have to speak out when I have the opportunity.
Whether it is the epidemic or the "political boycott", it should not be at the expense of the athletes' dreams. For athletes, it may take four years or more to work in vain. Because most athletes have only participated in one Olympic Games, it may be that he has dreamed of it since he was a child and worked hard for more than ten years, and he has paid in vain. It is also a huge blow to the audience, watching other people's efforts in vain, even if he is not a party, it will be a blow to faith. More importantly, if the "political boycott" succeeds, we may not only live under the fear of the epidemic, but also political fear.
△ In 2002, Yang Yang participated in the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics
Due to the impact of the new crown epidemic, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have been postponed for one year and opened on July 23, 2021. Takamichi Suzuki, director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Olympic Bidding Committee and a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, said: "In the end, we decided to host the Olympic Games as usual, and we must have an account for athletes from all countries and all those who have worked hard for the Olympic Games. Especially under the epidemic, the Olympic Games have brought us hope. ”
In July 2021, Yang Yang participated in the Tokyo Olympics as vice president of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Yang Yang: I remember that on the day of the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games, there was almost no one in the audience, and my heart would be a little silent, but there was still some expectation. I remember the moment the athletes entered, I was really moved, and I felt that the Olympic Games had finally started. Although there are not many of us, the opening of a normal Olympic Games is a scene of tens of thousands of people, and we have about 900 people. But the moment the athletes entered, I was still ignited by them, and it felt like they were there, and the Olympics were there.
In addition, I saw that many of the Morning Glory flowers were placed outside the Tokyo Olympic Games, which were actually not very beautiful, but they were all planted in the school in advance for the Olympic Games by children, which was a child's heart. From the perspective of the Olympic Organizing Committee, it still protected the Olympic Games and protected its very emotional side. Being able to make us feel a little lost, get some comfort and touch.
△There are many morning glory flowers planted outside the Tokyo Olympic Games
Tagawa: You said that from the launch of the Olympic Games to the present, what has been presented to the world is what every ordinary person yearns for in a beautiful world. What kind of picture is this "what it should look like"?
Yang Yang: It should be fair, mutually respectful, peaceful, non-discriminatory... These are all. For example, during the Olympic Games, in the Olympic Village, we had athletes from different colors, different faiths, and different countries around the world, and I think that scene was particularly good. On the field of play, we went all out, and with respect for the rules, we fought to the death. With winning and losing and convincing each other, this is the charm of the Olympics. We hope that the world will one day be the same way, no longer suspicious and mutually harmful. We want to make the world a better place through the Olympics, through sportsmanship. Because a lot of times we are suspicious of each other, we question each other, because there is a distance, and you don't have the opportunity to really communicate. Once we create an opportunity like this to bring people together, I think that's the greatest value of the Olympics. We don't have any decision-making power, but at least we have the influence and ability to bring everyone together to feel the beauty.
As long as the athletes' problems are solved, the Olympic Games will be 95% successful
When we met Yang Yang, she was being photographed in a print by a magazine. Unlike Yang Yang, a short-track speed skater wearing a suit and an ice knife on the field, Yang Yang in front of him wears makeup, styling, wearing fashion, posing pose, flashing one after another, like a professional fashion star. Only the vigor on the body makes people sure that this is Yang Yang.
From 1998 to 2006, Yang Yang participated in three Winter Olympic Games. In Nagano in 1998, the 22-year-old Yang Yang was convicted of fouls in both individual events, and only won a silver medal in the 3,000-meter relay with his teammates. In Salt Lake City in 2002, Yang Yang stood on the podium of the Winter Olympics and won the first winter Olympic gold medal in the history of the Chinese Winter Olympics. In 2006, the Turin Winter Olympics ended with a bronze medal in the 1,000 meters. Yang Yang said her career was complete enough. A few months later, Yang Yang officially announced his retirement.
After retiring from the military, she was active in several international sports organizations such as the International Olympic Committee, the International Skating Federation, the World Anti-Doping Agency, etc. The Olympic Games and ice and snow sports are still part of Yang Yang's daily work and life.
Yang Yang: In my eight years at the IOC, whether it is the Winter Olympics or the Summer Olympics, one of the tasks I will have every time is to introduce the most important thing to the observers of the organizing committee of the next Olympic Games in the Olympic Village or olympic venue. One of the most important messages is that during the Olympic games, as long as the athletes' problems are solved, the Olympic Games will be 95% successful, or even higher. They eat, live, travel, and compete, and as long as these problems are solved, the other content is not so important in the event stage. Sometimes you will find that if you don't understand this very well, he will ignore the competition, he will ignore the needs of the athletes, and he may spend a lot of energy on hosting the leadership or other aspects, so I always have to remind the future organizers of this.
Tagawa: You have always advocated an "athlete-centric" Winter Olympics, as thin as every stitch, every line must be prepared for athletes.
Yang Yang: Right. In early 2016, we set up an athlete committee, which I and 18 other athlete colleagues are responsible for. At the beginning of the establishment of the committee, everyone may position the committee as an "image ambassador", because the sports committee is still relatively new in the construction of the Chinese system. I was on the ATHLETES Committee of the International Skating Federation from 1999 until 2018 and then as a member of the Athletes' Committee at the IOC for eight years. These work experiences make me very much look forward to having an opportunity to lead everyone together and make the sports committee very real.
I remember the first time we had a meeting, I told everyone in the group in advance that everyone would make a few comments and suggestions from the perspective of athletes. Everyone is from their own personal experience, and finally we summarized 48 pieces of content, such as Hongbo's sewing kit, the opening of Li Nina's barrier-free passage, Li Nina experienced an injury to receive the award, and the result was that because the wheelchair was not prepared, it was a supermarket shopping cart, which was very embarrassing. I remember sharing all kinds of interesting experiences and embarrassing experiences of participating in the Olympics, and everyone laughed because they were our personal feelings.
It has been 23 years since he first travelled to Lausanne in 1999 to attend the ITU's working meetings. Yang Yang remembers his first proposal at the international conference was to use a neck guard in short track speed skating. After returning to China after the first time he went abroad to participate in the conference, Yang Yang posted the words "no smoking" in the most eye-catching place of the gymnasium. Constantly speaking out for the rights and interests of athletes is what Yang Yang has been doing all these years.
In 2019, Yang Yang was elected vice president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the first time Chinese entered the agency's top leadership.
△ Yang Yang joined the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
Yang Yang: I still remember that after entering WADA, it nominated me, and I was particularly nervous at that time, because the pressure on athletes in all aspects of this organization was quite large, and the news of going out of WADA was not good news, and no one wanted to hear bad news. But I often say that the bad news for good reason, that is, the bad news is all about better protecting the purity of the Olympics. When I was not sure, I asked Chairman Bach, can I do it? He gave me a particularly good piece of advice, follow your heart, and at that moment I smiled and followed my heart.
There are all kinds of voices about how to judge and supervise athletes to take doping, but for me, if he is clean, we have to protect his rights. Sometimes the rule is not 100% reasonable, this situation exists. But first of all, rules are rules, the bottom line that we can't touch, and I think this is a very necessary responsibility for being an athlete. Penalties still have to be there, but clean athletes, we still have to protect their rights.
Tagawa: From participating in the Olympic Games for the first time in 1998 to now being on your doorstep, how do you feel as an Olympic servicer?
Yang Yang: I am like a hospitable host, especially looking forward to their arrival, wanting to show them the best things in the family and give them our most enthusiastic service. Another point of view is that I also particularly understand the mood of athletes to participate in the Olympic Games with dreams. I myself went to the United States, Italy, and Japan to participate in the Olympic Games. I also hope that they will be able to realize their ideals and dreams in China like I did, because that feeling is so beautiful. So the opportunity to be a servicer, I feel very fortunate from the bottom of my heart, in a way, I think it is also the inheritance of the Olympic spirit.
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