Athens, Greece, October 19, 2021: The Olympic flame for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 is on its way to China.
During a ceremony in the historic Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on Tuesday, the flame was handed over from the Hellenic Olympic Committee to the organisers of the next Games.
VIP guests at the ceremony included IOC Vice President Ng Ser Miang of Singapore.
The Chinese delegation was led by IOC Vice President, Special Representative and Vice President of Beijing 2022 and Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee Yu Zaiqing. The ceremony was hosted by Hellenic Olympic Committee President and IOC member Spyros Capralos.
Li Nina, Olympic silver medallist in freestyle skiing in both 2006 and 2010, from China, took part in the lap of the historic track.
Beijing will write history as the first city to hold both editions of the Olympic Games, winter and summer. The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, from February 4-20, aim to connect the Chinese people with the world, bringing to life China’s vision to engage 300 million people with sport on snow and ice.
Yu Zaiqing said in his address: “In a short while, the Olympic flame will be passed on to Beijing for the second time. As a symbol of the Olympic spirit, the Olympic flame will travel to the Great Wall and across other parts of China, bringing with it the light of peace and friendship.”
A welcome ceremony for the flame will be held in Beijing on Wednesday, October 20.
