Joe Fitzgerald (center), a special expert in the snowboard freestyle program of the Sports Department of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, works at Genting Ski Park on March 3. Profile picture
On March 3, the World Curling Federation Technical Representative Jessie Snitir participated in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Torch Relay. Profile picture
On February 1, volunteer Lu Xiuyuan greeted the arrival of the participating athletes at the Yanqing Winter Olympic Village. Profile picture
On February 14, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Freestyle Ski women's steeplechase qualification tournament was held at The Genting Ski Park in Zhangjiakou. The picture shows Chinese player Gu Ailing in the competition. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Fei Maohua
In the beijing winter olympic and paralympic winter games, there are always many foreign experts and international student volunteers. By participating in the preparation and operation of the Winter Olympic games and the Winter Paralympic Games, they can more truly feel the sunshine, prosperity, openness and hope of China, and also feel the determination and efforts of China and the world to work together for the future.
"Never forget these wonderful moments"
Reporter Shao Yuzi
"It's a great Olympics, the best ever." After watching the closing ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics at the National Stadium in China, Joe Fitzgerald shared his feelings in the circle of friends. From the first field trip in 2016 to the perfect conclusion of the closing ceremony, Fitzgerald and his colleagues have worked hard for the success of the event, "which is the achievement of all the members of the preparatory team working together." ”
Fitzgerald is a special expert in the snowboard freestyle program of the Sports Department of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee. During the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, he often shuttled between different tracks in Genting Ski Park, providing support for technical officials, broadcast service personnel, and media reporters. Prior to joining the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee team, he served seven Winter Olympic Games and served as an event coach for the International Ski Federation for more than 20 years. As a senior expert, Fitzgerald said that serving sports events gives him the opportunity to work with colleagues from all over the world, allowing him to feel the exchange between different cultures, and also to show and promote ice and snow sports to the world, which is a "great experience".
During the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Chinese style track of Genting Ski Park attracted countless attention, especially the design of the "Snow Great Wall" received enthusiastic praise from athletes. Fitzgerald told reporters that the "Snow Great Wall" is not only a beautiful landscape, but also a practical windproof wall. "In order to prevent the impact of strong winds on the track, the designers decided to build a windproof wall next to the track. The 'Winter Olympics at the foot of the Great Wall' is a major feature of the Zhangjiakou competition area, which makes us think of incorporating Elements of the Great Wall into the design. Fitzgerald said that after the completion of the "Snow Great Wall", the effect was very good, and the team played a small competition for the design of Chinese elements while the iron was hot, and everyone added Chinese elements to the work area.
"This makes it a very designed Winter Olympic track, and it is also the best work presented by experts from all over the world." Fitzgerald said the athletes sweated in front of the stage and the team worked hard to provide support in the rear, which demonstrated the solidarity that the Olympic Games had built together.
Fitzgerald traveled to China for the first time in 2002, and he has been following China ever since. In the 20 years since, he has witnessed the continuous development of China's economy and was pleasantly surprised to see the vigorous development of ice and snow sports in China. China has formulated a scientific plan for the promotion of ice and snow sports, "We can feel China's action from the achievements of ice and snow infrastructure construction and people's enthusiasm for participating in ice and snow sports." In his view, the number of participants in global ice and snow sports is expected to double in the next few years, and the growth will mainly come from China.
Participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games, Fitzgerald left many good memories. It was his birthday on the opening day of the Winter Olympics, and he watched the opening ceremony with his friends in front of the TV. On the field, Chinese athletes Xu Mengtao and Qi Guangpu played brilliantly and won the gold medal. Fitzgerald said that I have known them for a long time and am very happy to see them overcome difficulties and break through themselves. "I was particularly touched to see everyone around me applauding and cheering for them wholeheartedly, and there was sincere joy in everyone's eyes. I will never forget these wonderful moments. ”
"I would like to thank everyone"
Reporter Chen Shangwen
"This is a safe and wonderful Winter Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games." Yeshi Snitir, technical representative of the World Curling Federation, said in an exclusive interview with this reporter that from first-class venue facilities to excellent organizational operations, to the unity and friendship gathered in the context of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, I believe that the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will always remain in the memory of the people of the world.
Snitier was a member of the Czech curling national team. From his career as a professional in 1994 to his retirement in 2017, he competed in 12 European Curling Championships and 7 World Men's Curling Championships. After retiring from the military, he transformed into a technical officer and began working for the World Curling Federation, responsible for the organization and operation of international curling events and technical work. As a technical representative, he was deeply involved in the work of the Beijing Winter Olympic games and the Winter Paralympic Games.
"The Beijing Winter Olympics have a special meaning for me, this is my first time to participate in the Olympic event, and it is also my second trip to China." Snitier participated in the 2014 World Men's Curling Championships in Beijing as a player, and coming to Beijing again gave him a more intuitive feeling and understanding of China's development. "The National Stadium is one of the most beautiful stadiums I've ever seen, and the huge floor screen of the National Stadium is impressive, especially the performances at the opening and closing ceremonies are a perfect combination of art and technology, showing the world Chinese culture and the Olympic spirit."
The "Ice Cube" of the National Aquatics Center, the curling competition venue of the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, carries the most memories of Snithir. He complimented: "This is the best curling venue I've ever been to. He noted that the Ice Cube is the world's first double Olympic venue to achieve water-ice conversion. The curling venues of the previous Winter Olympic Games have generally made ice on concrete structures, while the curling venues of the Beijing Winter Olympics have laid four crystal clear curling tracks on top of the sparkling blue lanes of the past. It is worth mentioning that the water ice conversion is not a one-time project, but can be freely switched between "water function" and "ice function" according to the needs. The venue can also undertake large-scale cultural performances to maximize the use of facilities. "China has set an example for the world in green hosting the Olympic Games and the sustainable use of the Olympic heritage." Snitier said.
19 days of Winter Olympic curling competition, 8 days of Winter Paralympic wheelchair curling competition, "Ice Cube" witnessed a wonderful ice game. Snitier said, "Athletes strive to be the best they can be on this perfect 'stage.'" ”
In the interview, the word Snitier mentioned the most was "thanks.". "The success of the curling event is due to the orderly organization of the Chinese side and the dedication of every staff member and volunteer, and I would like to thank everyone." In his heart, the close cooperation with Chinese friends is the most precious memory, "Chinese colleagues work hard, selfless dedication, full of enthusiasm, we work side by side, and make unremitting efforts to present a successful Winter Olympics." At Ice Cube, we all forged a valuable friendship. ”
Snitier said that the Beijing Winter Olympics show China's huge development potential in the field of ice and snow sports. "Many Chinese people have become interested in curling, and China's curling industry is developing rapidly." He pointed out that China is an important member of the World Curling Federation, has the ability to hold major events and the potential to develop curling projects, and hopes to carry out more cooperation with China in the future.
"Let the world see China's struggle and development"
Reporter Qu Pei
Take your temperature, disinfect, provide guidance, apply for a pass card... At the reception and visitor center of the Yanqing Division of the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, Zimbabwean boy Lu Xiuyuan enjoyed the joy of serving everyone in the busy. From his official induction on January 23 to the end of his work on March 15, this volunteer experience has allowed him to gain service experience in sports events and a deeper understanding of China.
Lu Xiuyuan is a junior majoring in international relations at Beijing No. 2 College of Foreign Chinese. Since coming to China in 2018, he has been active in various activities and volunteer positions. When learning that the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee was recruiting volunteers, Lu Xiuyuan signed up for the first time and successfully passed several rounds of interviews. He said that the Beijing Winter Olympics is the world's top sports event, and he hopes to make contributions to the best of his ability by volunteering, "and I also hope to gain more valuable experiences, so that I can share what I have learned with more people when I return home." ”
Yanqing Racing Area is located at the foot of the beautiful Xiaohaituo Mountain, where the stadium architecture is harmoniously integrated with the mountain and forest scenery, and a village ruins located in the middle of it add a unique historical and cultural atmosphere. During the work, Lu Xiuyuan praised the green environmental protection of the competition area. He shared with reporters the details of his observations: all venues meet green building standards, 100% conventional energy uses green electricity; the garbage classification work in the competition area is particularly careful, and the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee has compiled a set of waste removal operation standard system and issued work guidelines to relevant personnel. "Whether it's staff, athletes or visitors, they're all working together to protect the environment in which we live."
Among the volunteers in Yanqing, there are Chinese university students from Beijing, Shanghai, Anhui and other places, as well as students from Zimbabwe, Turkmenistan and other countries. In addition to their daily work, their lives are very rich. This year's Lantern Festival, Lu Xiuyuan and his colleagues spent it with athletes and team officials from various countries and regions. He also participated in the dragon and lion dance program performance, and felt the charm of traditional Chinese festivals with everyone. For more than a month, they formed a deep friendship, "China is remarkable, bringing together athletes and staff from all over the world to feel the excitement and joy of sports." ”
It is not difficult to know what to do. The experience of participating in volunteer service also allowed Lu Xiuyuan to see China's efforts and determination to overcome all difficulties and go all out during the preparation and holding of the Winter Olympics. He also remembers that in order to make volunteers better adapt to their jobs, the Winter Olympic Organizing Committee has prepared more than 20 courses, from Chinese culture and the history of the Winter Olympics to epidemic prevention knowledge and psychological training, covering all aspects of the Winter Olympic Games. During the Beijing Winter Olympics, which coincided with the Chinese New Year, many staff, including medical staff, security personnel, and venue maintenance personnel, gave up the opportunity to reunite with their families and stuck to their posts. "Everyone who sticks to their posts is selflessly dedicated to the perfect presentation of the Winter Olympics."
Lu Xiuyuan has participated in the "100 Reasons to Love Beijing" theme short video competition. "There are many reasons why I fell in love with Beijing." He gave the reporter one by one: Beijing is the world's first "double Olympic city", where the most hospitable people can feel the ingenious combination of classical and modern in the streets and alleys here, and can also find the story of China's development from the changes in the city... Lu Xiuyuan told reporters, "The Winter Olympics will let the world see China's struggle and development." In the future, I will continue to seriously study China's history, culture and development experience, hoping to contribute to the development of my country. ”
People's Daily ( 2022-04-01 17th edition)