How does the IOC evaluate the Beijing Winter Olympics? ——Interview with Samaranch Jr

IOC President Bach has said that the Olympics may be one of the most complex events on the planet, as if it were a huge and very difficult jigsaw puzzle. For each Olympic Games, the IOC will set up a special coordination committee to coordinate with the organizing committee of the Olympic Games to promote in the fields of sports, venues, accommodation, arrival and departure, transportation, registration, media operations and other Olympic preparations. In the process of preparing for the Beijing Winter Olympics, it also suffered the impact of the new crown epidemic, and the workload of the preparation increased geometrically.

Recently, Samaranch Jr., chairman of the Coordination Committee of the International Olympic Committee for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, was interviewed by a Xinhua reporter. How does the IOC evaluate the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics?

Preparations for the Winter Olympics exceeded expectations

Samaranch Jr. said that although people often discuss the ability of the host country (region), the host city and the organizing committee to run the games, the IOC has never doubted China's ability to run the games, and the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics are fully in line with the requirements and exceed expectations.

Since the beginning of the epidemic, due to travel restrictions, Samaranch Jr. and other members of the Coordination Committee have had to overcome the time difference most of the time and communicate with the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee by video. "It makes it difficult to organize the event. But what is amazing and impressive is the ability of the entire Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee and all the Chinese people. Under such difficult conditions, make the event a success and ensure the safety of everyone. Samaranch Jr. said.

Closed-loop management is the best solution

In order to run the games safely, the Beijing Winter Olympic Games implement closed-loop management. In this regard, Samaranch Jr. believes that China's public health department has done rigorous and comprehensive work. Since the event was held, closed-loop management has played a very critical role in the smooth operation of the event.

He said: "The Austrian-related personnel conducted nucleic acid testing before they came to China. We tell you to stay home as much as possible before you come, don't have too much contact with the outside world, and do a nucleic acid test before boarding. Therefore, we can find people infected at the last moment (before departure) and isolate them. When they arrive in the playing area, into the closed loop, there will be no transmission, very safe. ”

"The crowds inside and outside the closed loop are also completely separated, and inside the closed loop are Chinese and foreign Olympic-related personnel, and outside the closed loop are the people of Beijing and Hebei." We were all safe. Given the current situation, (closed loop) is the best solution and works. ”

The legacy of the Winter Olympics has benefited generations of Chinese

Samaranch Jr. 's father, Emeritus president of the International Olympic Committee for life , was an old friend of the Chinese. During Samaranch's tenure, China successfully bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Today, Samaranch Jr. is fully involved in the preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Samaranch Jr. believes that he likes the narrative style and technological presentation of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. "The opening ceremony can reflect the mentality of the host city. In 2008, China wanted to tell the world that we are coming and that we are here for a big celebration. Now, China doesn't need to say to anybody anymore, we're here, because China is already at the center of the world stage. (Beijing Winter Olympics theme) slogan is 'together to the future', conveying a very good message to the world. ”

In his view, just like the 2008 Olympic Games, the legacy of the Beijing Winter Olympics will also affect the Chinese generations. He said that what is valuable is that some of the legacy of the Winter Olympics has been presented before the games. First of all, a number of outstanding venues will be open to the people in the future, which will play a positive role not only in the 16 days of the Winter Olympics, but also in the next 60 years; secondly, through the preparation of the Winter Olympics, the relevant infrastructure will be improved, and high-speed rail, highways, etc. will bring more convenience to the lives of the people; third, China has achieved the goal of "driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports".

"You can see that China is now a country of ice and snow sports, and this will further affect the whole country and society." Samaranch Jr. said.

Text/Ji Ye Dong Yixing Li Chunyu