"Simple", "safe" and "wonderful" - listen to foreign friends talk about the Winter Olympics experience

【Global Times Comprehensive Report】The competition on the ice and snow presented by the Winter Olympics has always fascinated global sports fans, and in Beijing, the "city of the two Olympic Games", an expected and more exciting sports event has begun. However, "wonderful" is only one of China's commitments to the world. Under the concept of "green, shared, open and clean", and in the reality of the covid-19 pandemic, China must also ensure that the Olympic Games are "simple" and "safe". So far, at least, China has done it, and it's brilliant.

The "simplicity" of this Winter Olympic Games has attracted a lot of foreign media attention. A report by Yonhap News Agency on the 5th paid attention to some details of the opening ceremony on the evening of the 4th, such as the ignition ceremony is completely different from the past, and the scene of the fire soaring into the sky no longer appears. According to the report, this is mainly from the perspective of environmental protection. In addition to mentioning that the main torch can be saved by using "micro-fire" for the first time, the German "Der Spiegel" weekly also said that compared with the Tokyo Olympic Games and the Pingchang Winter Olympics, the number of opening ceremonies has been greatly reduced, and the budget of the Beijing Winter Olympics is the lowest in 20 years.

The Global Times reporter learned during an interview in Yanqing That by building the world's first 500 kV flexible DC power grid project, the Beijing Winter Olympics became the first Olympic Games in history to use 100% green electricity such as photovoltaics and wind power. Through technological innovation, Beijing became the first host city in the history of the Winter Olympics to adopt carbon dioxide ice making technology with carbon emissions close to zero on a large scale.

Kim Chen-kun, Minister Counsellor of the Korean Embassy in China and President of the Korean Academy of Culture, was previously invited by the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee to visit the facilities related to the Beijing Winter Olympics together with other diplomatic envoys in China. Jin Chenkun commented that the preparatory work for the Beijing Winter Olympics is "very practical, economical and environmentally friendly".

It is reported that the Beijing Winter Olympics used a number of 2008 Summer Olympic venues, while some of the 2008 land, urban infrastructure and so on have also been reused. The Beijing Division, which undertakes all the ice competitions of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, only built the "blank" project venues, the National Speed Skating Hall and the Shougang Ski Jump, and the Yanqing Competition Area upgraded the original village into a characteristic mountain village serving ice and snow sports.

Emmanuel Reina-Trick, head of the Asia region of the Austrian National Tourism Board, was impressed by Shougang's project, telling the Global Times that it is a pearl of ancient industrial design combined with modern sports venues, and after the Winter Olympics, Beijing citizens will be happy to have leisure activities there.

As for "security," many foreign journalists have a profound experience. A Japanese colleague told reporters that since downloading the "Winter Olympic Pass" in Japan, he has carried out a series of work to enter the closed loop, including daily reporting of physical condition, obtaining vaccination certificates, receiving nucleic acid tests, and obtaining green codes. When entering China, workers in protective clothing can be seen on the taxiway of the Capital International Airport, which makes people feel "different atmosphere". He said the well-designed system makes people feel safe.

Swiss skier Nicholas Huber arrived in Beijing and tested positive for nucleic acid and was judged to be an asymptomatic infected person. "I was quickly taken by a special car by medical staff in protective clothing to the quarantine hotel," Huber told the Global Times reporter, adding that the care provided by the Chinese side was very good, and he had begun to resume training after the nucleic acid results were negative.

Before the Venues of the Winter Olympics entered a closed-loop state, a global Times reporter visited a number of venues in beijing and noticed that they were strictly divided into closed loop and closed loop outside. At the "Ice Sail" National Stadium, the relevant person in charge told reporters that there is also a green channel in the venue, and once the personnel in the stadium have fever symptoms, they will immediately carry out on-site disposal and transfer.

"Why do we do? Why can we win? It relies on science to fight the epidemic. Zhang Boli, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, told the Global Times that many foreigners do not understand how China fights the epidemic, and this time they can feel what is scientific and accurate anti-epidemic when they come to Beijing.

Samaranch Jr., chairman of the Coordination Committee of the International Olympic Committee for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, said in an interview with the Global Times that there are currently "two Beijings" - China's Beijing and the Beijing of the Winter Olympics, and the Beijing of the Winter Olympics is a closed loop. "The closed loop of the Beijing Winter Olympics is safe and effective, and it's probably the safest place in the world." Samaranch Jr. said that although the epidemic has made the preparations 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 wonderful competitions... The Beijing Winter Olympics will be an extraordinary party and will inspire people in other parts of the world."

In the interview, many foreign athletes could not hide their excitement. Brazilian steel frame snowmobile Nicole Silvera, who served as the flag bearer of the Brazilian team at the opening ceremony, told the Global Times reporter: "All athletes dream of participating in the Olympic Games, and when you achieve this dream and can hold the flag, the effort you have put in and the difficulties you have experienced are worth it." ”

"The feeling of walking at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics is so different. The moment you walk out of the aisle and into the stadium, you realize you're an Olympian and the whole world is watching you. American snowmobile rider Carlo Valdés said that despite not being able to reach spectators and having less interaction between the three Winter Olympic villages, athletes can still have a great experience at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

In the eyes of Brian Lewis, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, Beijing is a city that has made Olympic history, telling the Global Times that the determination of China's leaders and the will of all staff to overcome difficulties in the current era of the covid-19 pandemic are admirable. "I am very confident and supportive of the success of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which will inspire the whole world and unite all people."

[Global Times reporter Zhao Jueheng Baiyunyi Xing Xiaojing Global Times special correspondent in Germany and South Korea Aoki Zhang Jing]

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