As Slovakia's ambassador to China Dušan Bela introduced and looked forward to before the Winter Olympics, Petra Flova won the gold medal in the women's slalom event in alpine skiing at the Beijing Winter Olympics. This is not only Slovakia's first gold medal in alpine skiing in the "traditional event" of the Winter Olympics, but also makes Petra the second Winter Olympic champion in her country's history.
Four consecutive Winter Olympic Games have been recorded with gold medals, and Lubomir Shoček, director of media communications at the Slovak Olympic Committee and chief press officer of the Slovak delegation to the Beijing Winter Olympics, is in a good mood. Summing up the Slovak delegation's trip to the Winter Olympics to the Beijing Daily client reporter, Lubomir said that Petra's gold medal was "a huge success" for Slovakia as a whole. Lu Bomir, who came to China in 2008 for the Beijing Summer Olympics, said he liked the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, which was different from that of 14 years ago. The accommodation in the Winter Olympic Village was almost perfect, and the volunteers were fantastic, so grateful for their work, the joy they brought to others, and the positive emotions.
The victory of ice hockey over the United States has made Slovakia celebrate
"Petra Flova's gold medal was a huge success for slovakia as a whole, especially in a 'traditional event' at a Winter Olympics like alpine skiing." Lubomir Shochek says that in fact, over the past two seasons, Petra has proven herself to be the best alpine skier in the world.
Photo courtesy of Lubomir Shoček, Director of Media Communications at the Slovak Olympic Committee and Chief Press Officer of the Slovak Delegation to the Beijing Winter Olympics
Prior to Petra, Anastasia Kuzmina had won gold for Slovakia in biathlon for three consecutive Winter Olympics. In fact, the most important winter sport for Slovaks is ice hockey. Lubomir introduced that the Slovak ice hockey team participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics is a young team, with 3 players under the age of 20. But their performance is enough to describe it as stunning.
Lubomir Shoček and Slovak biathlon and three-time Winter Olympic gold medalist Anastasia Kuzmina. Courtesy of the interviewee
On February 16, Slovakia beat the United States 3-2 in the quarterfinals, reaching the men's hockey semifinals of the Winter Olympics for the second time in 12 years. Lubomir said that this made all Slovaks ecstatic. The day before, they swept the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics runner-up Germany 4-0.
"Our biathlete Paulina Fiarkova is also a testament to the strength of her top athletes. But to be honest, we have higher expectations for the performance of many other Slovak athletes in Beijing. Lubomir said.
The volunteers in the Winter Olympic Village were fantastic
As a veteran sports official, this is the second time Lubomir has participated in the Olympics in Beijing. "I think the accommodation conditions in Beijing Winter Olympic Village are almost perfect, and the Yanqing Winter Olympic Village is similar. I don't know much about Zhangjiakou Winter Olympic Village, I have only been to the restaurant there, but I have not stayed, but from the outside it looks great. ”
Members of the British delegation worked with volunteers to make clay ice piers. Xinhua News Agency photo
Lubomir said Slovak athletes look forward to new changes on the menu every day. In addition, Pizza Hut and KFC in the Winter Olympic Village are also welcomed by everyone.
"The volunteers at the Winter Olympic Village were fantastic. They were very kind, helpful and always smiling. Although sometimes their English is not so good, I think they are open to the Winter Olympics. Lu Bomir said that he believes that the Beijing Winter Olympics will leave a beautiful and long-lasting memory for the volunteers and become their unique experience, "I am very grateful for the work of the volunteers, the joy they bring to others and the positive emotions." ”
One thing that surprised him most about the opening ceremony was the one thing
In 2008, Lubomir joined other members of the delegation at the "Bird's Nest" for the athletes' entrance ceremony, and this time he watched the live broadcast of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on television.
In Lubomir's view, although the same director is in charge, the two Olympic opening ceremonies of the "City of Two Olympics" are "completely different". The opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games was grand and imposing, showcasing a very rich history and culture of China. In contrast, the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics was much softer and more elegant, but he "really liked it".
Lubomir said that in the era of the pandemic, the opening ceremony was handled in a very appropriate way. "Hundreds of millions of people around the world are suffering, with more than 5 million people dying of COVID-19. The world really needs some good news right now, so the message of peace conveyed at the opening ceremony is good. ”
"I like the new way of igniting, especially the use of the image of 'snowflakes' in the torch stand. What surprised me the most was that a lot of European classical music was played during the athletes' entrance ceremony. ”