Promoting Sports Exchanges and Uniting Solidarity (Cheers for the Winter Olympics)

Pictured: On February 15, the final of the men's snowboard jump at the Beijing Winter Olympics was held on the Beijing Shougang Ski Jump. Pictured here is Dutch player Nick van der Velden at the match. Photo by Xue Yuan, a reporter of this newspaper: Japanese skiers take a group photo with the "ice pier" mascot of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Photo: On February 15, the beijing Winter Olympics speed skating men's team chase final was held at the National Speed Skating Hall "Ice Ribbon". The picture shows the Players of the Russian Olympic Committee team in the competition. Photo by Wang Jianwei, Xinhua News Agency: On February 15, the Beijing Winter Olympics freestyle skiing men's steeplechase qualification tournament was held at the Zhangjiakou Genting Ski Park. Pictured is Spain's Thibault Magnin at the race. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Chang

In recent days, the heads of multinational (regional) Olympic committees and sports circles have said that during the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, athletes compete on the field, hug and greet after the game, which is a beautiful scene. Athletes from many countries and regions have forged a deep friendship with volunteers. People around the world applaud the Winter Olympics, cheer for Beijing, and work together for the future.

As the first Winter Olympics held after the Olympic motto joined "More Unity", the Beijing Winter Olympics were successfully held as scheduled and widely supported by the international community, with nearly 3,000 athletes from 91 countries and regions participating, which was the winter Olympic Games with the most gold medals. The unity, cooperation and hope demonstrated by the Beijing Winter Olympics have boosted the confidence of all countries and regions in overcoming difficulties, greatly enhanced the friendship between the people of all countries and regions, and condensed the strength of unity.

"Sport must be used to unite people"

On the evening of February 12, in the Beijing Winter Olympics figure skating ice dance rhythm dance competition, the Japanese team combination Miri Komatsubara / Komatsubara Zun played poorly and did not qualify for the free dance competition. The Chinese team combination Of Wang Shiyue/Liu Xinyu greeted him. "After the game, I wanted to go up and comfort them as soon as possible." Wang Shiyue said.

Four years ago, when Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu went to Canada for training, they got to know Miri Komatsubara and Sōzumi Komatsubara. "Our first year in Canada was unfamiliar with the environment and lacked confidence, and they gave us a lot of help." Wang Shiyue said that since then, affected by the epidemic, the Chinese team combination can only complete training through video in China, and has encountered many difficulties in the meantime, "They (the Japanese team combination) and we have encountered similar situations and understand each other's difficulties." "In the past two years, there has been more communication between the two pairs, and everyone has encouraged each other.

American freestyle skier Caldwell and champion Xu Mengtao hugged and wept with excitement; Chinese speed skater Ahanal Adak crossed the finish line and reached out to pay tribute to Germany's Claudia Pehistein... Nikki Zheng, a member of the Philippine delegation and president of the Philippine Skating Association, saw that during the Competition on February 12, the Russian Olympic Committee players and Ukrainian athletes shook hands and took the initiative to take a group photo, "This is a wonderful moment at the Winter Olympics, highlighting the concept of 'more unity' advocated by the Olympic motto." ”

"I think sports must be used to unite people. I would love to use sport as a force of solidarity. "The feeling of freestyle skier Gu Ailing is exactly the call of athletes to all parties with the hard work and exchanges inside and outside the arena.

"United by a love of winter sports"

In the view of John Eliasch, president of the International Ski Federation, the scenes of "more unity" at the Beijing Winter Olympics reflect that athletes, sports people and enthusiasts from all over the world are "united by the love of winter sports".

"It's great to be here to meet new people and share stories of how we got here and the joy of finally arriving here, it's awesome!" American curler Christopher Price said.

Canadian alpine skier Brody Seeger told this reporter that human beings are in the same "global village", and we should abandon differences, seek common ground while reserving differences, and jointly cope with challenges by strengthening cooperation. At the Beijing Winter Olympics, "the scene of many athletes encouraging each other and working hard is unforgettable." Athletes should carry forward the Olympic spirit, unite and cooperate, and strive for better results. He said.

Gunilla Lindbergh, secretary general of the IOC National (Regional) Olympic Committee Federation, told this reporter that sports gather confidence and strength, bringing the hearts of people in all countries and regions closer, "Sports is education, happiness, and a platform for mutual learning, which makes us look forward to a better future in the 'global village'." ”

"Delivering unity and hope through participation in the Winter Olympics"

At this year's Beijing Winter Olympics, many countries and regions located in the tropics and subtropics sent athletes to participate, showing the spirit of sportsmanship to the world and adding color to this ice and snow event.

"There is no snow in Southeast Asia, but that doesn't stop athletes from the region from loving winter sports." The Philippine "Daily Inquirer" reported that at the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Timor-Leste sent a total of 8 athletes to participate. Among them, Filipino athlete Asa Miller and East Timorese athlete John Gonçalves Guot are the "only seedling players" of their respective national delegations, training together and building friendships through sports.

"We are far from the medal, but it is important that Timor-Leste is represented here, and I am willing to support athletes from other Southeast Asian countries and regions, unity is the proper meaning of the Olympic movement." Gonçalves said. Nikki Zheng said: "Although there is only one athlete participating, the Philippine delegation will certainly give its all. This is not only about the results of the competition, but also about promoting the Olympic spirit. ”

This year, Saudi Arabia participated in the Winter Olympics for the first time, and Saudi alpine skier Fayk Abdi was the first Gulf Arab athlete to participate in the Winter Olympics. The Saudi Gazette website reports that a new avenue has opened up to welcome more Saudi athletes to compete and embrace a new sporting lifestyle.

As Haiti's first athlete to participate in the Winter Olympics, alpine skier Richardson Viano said: "I want to pass on solidarity and hope by participating in the Winter Olympics. It is important for athletes to have the courage to take on challenges and not give up easily in the competition. If this competition can let more latin American people understand the charm of ice and snow sports, it will be great. ”

(Beijing, Bangkok, Cairo, February 15, reporters And Peijuan, Ji Fang, Yang Xun, Chen Shangwen, Zhao Yipu, Shen Xiaoxiao)

People's Daily ( 2022-02-16 11th edition)