The Winter Olympic Games is the world's biggest comprehensive winter sports extravaganza. The Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG) has been working closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), coordinating epidemic prevention and control with the preparations for the Games. China is confident to deliver a simple, safe and splendid Games with a green, inclusive, open and clean approach and with the support of all Chinese people as well as the international society. Looking forward to the Games running from February 4 to 20, I have the pleasure to brief you on China's overall progress in preparations for Beijing 2022.
Pooling Best Resources and All Efforts for the Games
Giving full play to China's institutional advantages of pooling resources to make major events perfect, the BOCOG has established integrated coordinating mechanisms with relevant central and local government departments to ensure an efficient and orderly operation of the Winter Games. At present, preparations for Beijing 2022 have been in full swing, all necessary works have been proceeding in an orderly manner and basically brought into readiness.
First, the competition venues and infrastructure facilities have met the requirements of the Games. All 12 competition venues have been completed and certified by the relevant international winter sports organizations. The three Winter Olympic Villages, the Main Media Center, related high-speed railway line and expressway have been put into use. Barrier-free facilities and environments have been further improved. While qualified to host the Games, newly-built venues such as the National Speed Skating Oval ("Ice Ribbon") and Snowmobile and Sled Center ("Snow Dragon") have incorporated Chinese cultural elements and become eye-catching landmark buildings.
Second, all competition venues are running up to the operation standard of Games-time. Since 2020, venue management teams consisting of professional personnel have been formed to take care of each venue's competition organization, pandemic prevention and control, facilities maintenance and other supporting services. From October to December 2021 ten international test events and three international training-week sessions were conducted to further improve Games-time operation capacities. Some 2,000 overseas athletes and officials participated in the all-element test events under a closed-loop management system. International sports organizations and athletes have spoken highly of their experiences.
Third, comprehensive efforts are made in supporting services for the Games. The BOCOG has contracted and allocated nearly 100 hotels, and is currently working on accommodation reservations. Food raw materials suppliers and caterers have been selected. Menus have been drawn up to meet various needs and preferences. 41 health care institutions have been designated and medical teams inside venues have been set up. A traffic center has been established in charge of vehicles and transportation. A preliminary list of volunteers has been made, and their training is underway. The BOCOG has formulated and implemented an action plan on the sci-tech innovation of the Winter Games, proactively promoting the use of hydrogen fuel, 5G communication, cloud broadcasting, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
Fourth, public awareness and cultural activities are building up the festival atmosphere and contributing Chinese elements to the diversity of the Olympics. Following up with Beijing 2022’s vision, “joyful rendez-vous upon pure ice and snow uniting the passion of hundreds of millions for winter sports”, the BOCOG has unveiled emblems, mascots, torch, sports pictograms, medals, musical works, uniforms, etc. and organized 1,000-day/one-year/100-day countdown thematic events. The Olympic flame was ignited from Greece and the torch relay is planned on February 2. Thanks to media coverage at home and abroad, keen enthusiasm for Winter Games has been fostered worldwide. Always attracting a fair share of curiosity, the opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing 2022 are in creative good hands and something worth the expectations.
Fifth, sincere efforts and remarkable progress have been made for the sustainability and heritage of the Olympic Movement. The BOCOG has been implementing sustainability plans and carbon neutrality schemes. All facilities of Beijing 2022 have achieved carbon neutrality. All competition venues have realized full coverage of green electricity network. The National Speed Skating Oval and three other venues have adopted a new type of carbon dioxide refrigerant. The Winter Games have played a significant role in promoting coordinated development of Beijing and its adjacent region. The journey to Beijing 2022 has enhanced transport connectivity, boosted industrial complementarity, facilitated joint environmental governance, fostered the streamlining and sharing of public services. We have worked to establish a tourism belt featuring sports culture between Beijing and Zhangjiakou, the co-host city in Hebei Province. Each competition venue has its specific plan for post-Games reuse. By proactively bringing winter sports into campuses and neighborhoods, we are getting closer to achieving the goal of engaging 300 million Chinese people in winter sports, encouraged by President Xi Jinping. The enhancement of physical fitness will not only bring health and happiness to individuals as they enjoy everyday lives, but also benefit the common prosperity of the society in the long run, thus making unique contribution to the sustainability and heritage of the Olympic Movement.
Epidemic Prevention and Control
Properly addressing the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest challenge facing Beijing 2022 Winter Games. The Chinese side remains committed to prioritizing the health and safety of all participants. To better prevent and control the pandemic, the BOCOG has established an international working group with the IOC and the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as a domestic joint expert team, consulted widely with stakeholders, formulated thorough plans and venue-specific measures. On October 25, the BOCOG, the IOC and the IPC jointly published the first editions of the Beijing 2022 Playbooks. The two Playbooks, one for athletes and team officials, and one for all other stakeholders, provide comprehensive COVID-19 guidelines that will help participants prepare for traveling to and arriving in China, fulfilling their roles at the Games, and their departure from Beijing. The Playbooks outline six fundamental principles: simplified organizing efforts, remote prevention and control, vaccination, close-loop management, efficient handling, the integration of prevention and control. They also stipulate specific measures.
Given the still severe and complicated global epidemic situation, in order to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of Olympic participants and the Chinese people, the BOCOG in tandem with the IOC and the IPC, drawing on China's successful experience in the fight against COVID-19 and that of major international competitions held in the past and at present, have decided to conduct strict closed-loop management for people involved in the 2022 Winter Olympics. All the people within the loop, including all stakeholders involved in the Winter Olympics, the Chinese staff and volunteers, are subject to the closed-loop management policy and in strict separation from the outside communities. Within the big loop, athletes and other participants will be provided with dedicated vehicles to move freely from their places of residence to the venues, from venues to venues, and between three competition divisions. Moreover, the Olympic villages and other stakeholders within the loop, such as contracted hotels for the media, will also provide good experiences through access to specialty restaurants, licensed retailers, cafes, gyms, some recreational facilities,etc.
The regulations in the playbook, made in light of the latest scientific conclusions and expert opinions and in reference to the experience of other international events, are believed to be essential to mitigate the risks and impact of the pandemic and will be strictly implemented. All the people involved in the Winter Games are expected to abide by these regulations. The BOCOG is discussing the details with the IOC to hold those who violate regulations accountable with possible severe punishments, including warnings, temporary or permanent cancellation of registrations, disqualification from competitions, ejection from competitions.
The Popularization of Winter Sports in China
Getting 300 million people involved in winter sports is a promise made by China in its bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. As a country with vast territory and diverse natural conditions, winter sports used to be confined mainly to the northern parts of China with abundant snow and ice resources. As the economy, society, science and technologies develop, the increasingly mature ice-making technology has allowed winter sports to go nationwide. Ecological snow-making technologies have prompted booming indoor and outdoor ski resorts in southern China. Many places have built sports facilities by using new technologies, materials and skills, represented by VR, AR, dry ski slopes, liquid synthetic ice, inflatable domes, detachable devices and so on. Our vigorous developments, though still not comparable to other countries traditionally associated with winter sports, have made it possible for more Chinese citizens, especially young people, to step onto ice rinks and ski resorts. Winter sports have become the leisurely and fashionable entertainment among the public, enriching their life. With the progress in its technological strength and innovative capacity, the encouragement from central and local governments, and participation of relevant sectors and people from all walks of life, China is fully capable of achieving the goal of winter sports popularization, delivering the joyful fruits of winter sports to the public, and making valuable contributions to international winter sports.
Beijing 2022 Bringing the World Together
The motto of Beijing 2022 “Together for a Shared Future” extends the best wishes of the 1.4 billion Chinese people to the world. It embodies the core values of the Olympic Movement and the unifying power of sport and the importance of solidarity to overcome difficulties. Especially, given the challenge of the global pandemic, it highlights the significance of making this Winter Games a success. Beijing is the first city to host both Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Echoing Beijing 2008 Summer Games motto "One World, One Dream", “Together for a Shared Future” is China’s renewed resolve to give full play to the new Olympic motto “Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together”. To build a community of shared future for mankind, there is more that unites us than divides us.
Beijing 2022 will surely inspire the youth with the Olympic spirit, encourage millions to embrace winter sports, promote social progress through Winter Games, create a harmonious world through better mutual understanding. China is ready to welcome members of the Olympic family from all over the world. I’d like to thank the American friends for their interest in and support for Beijing 2022. Looking forward to the extraordinary Games and the fantastic performance of top athletes in 3 months, please allow me to join you in wishing all of them, including the American athletes, the best of luck.
