Beijing, China, February 2, 2022: The President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, believes Beijing 2022 will be an “historic celebration of the Olympic spirit.”
Writing in the first edition of the “Winter Olympian” daily newspaper published on February 2, the IOC President highlights the fact that Beijing will become the first city in history to host both the summer and winter editions of the Olympic Games.
“Together we are writing a new chapter in sporting history,” he says.
“The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will be the start of a new era for winter sport. Well over 300 million Chinese people are now taking up sport on snow and ice. Today, China is a winter sport country. This will change the global landscape for winter sport forever.”
The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics will take place at the National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, on Friday evening, and run until February 20, with around 2,900 athletes from 90 National Olympic Committees.
“Now is the time for you, the best winter sport athletes of the world, to make history,” the IOC President urged the athletes in his message.
“You can only make your Olympic dream come true because our Chinese partners and friends have set the Olympic stage in such a splendid way. You have magnificent venues from which to shine.”
To conclude his greeting, Bach said: “I kindly invite you, the athletes, and all Chinese people to enjoy this historic celebration of the Olympic spirit.”
The President of the organising committee BOCOG, Cai Qi, also wrote an introductory message in the Winter Olympian. He said that, after seven years of preparations, Beijing would fulfill its promise to present “streamlined, safe and splendid” Winter Games to the world.
“The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will be a milestone in the history of China,” he said.
The Winter Olympian is the official publication for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics produced by China Daily.