Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 27th, title: Beijing Winter Olympics, precious wealth for the future
Xinhua News Agency reporters Lin Deren, Hu Jiali and Liu Jinhui
With the successful conclusion of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the multi-dimensional significance of this world-renowned event has begun to show a clearer and clearer context. From the 2008 Summer Olympics to the 2022 Winter Olympics, two grand events have accumulated valuable wealth for the future.
The Beijing Winter Olympics have an immeasurable and far-reaching impact on economic and social development, on the growth of the young generation, on the history of the Olympic movement and on the development pattern of winter sports.
Winter Olympics change cities
With Gu Ailing and Su Yiming winning consecutive gold medals at the Shougang Ski Jumping Platform, the development style of Beijing’s new era city has also been known to the world. The old factory building was transformed into the office of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, and the Winter Olympics ski jumping platform was built next to the power plant. This transformation is also a microcosm of the transformation of the urban development path. The pace of high-quality development in Beijing has become more and more solid.
In terms of transportation, the operation and construction of Daxing Airport, expressway network and rail transit have been accelerated. During the Winter Olympics, people from all over the world witnessed the Chinese speed in the transition between the three major regions. It has become more and more fashionable to go skiing on the high-speed train.
From an economic point of view, the structure of the ice and snow industry in Beijing has become increasingly clear. More than 20,000 mass activities at all levels and various types have been carried out, with more than 31 million participants, and the coverage of ice and snow sports has been further expanded.
From a technological point of view, the application of science and technology in various aspects such as clothing, food, housing and transportation during the Winter Olympics has attracted athletes from all over the world. During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, Beijing will speed up the construction of the world’s major scientific center and innovation highland, and provide strategic support for the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and construction of a scientific and technological power.
IOC President Bach believes that Beijing is the first “city of dual Olympics” to host the Summer and Winter Olympics, which is writing history and making China appear on the world stage in both the Summer and Winter Olympics the center of.
Winter Olympics change the youth generation
During the preparation and hosting of the Winter Olympics, as well as on the Winter Olympics, the younger generation showed the confidence, responsibility and vitality that belong to this era. In the process of growing into the pillars of the motherland, the Winter Olympics have become an unforgettable memory for them.
At the just-concluded Beijing Winter Olympics, Su Yiming, who was born on February 18, 2004, won gold and silver medals in the snowboard ski jumping competition and the slope obstacle skills competition, making a historic breakthrough for China’s ice and snow sports. Su Yiming inspired the young people with his struggle story and championship experience: “Love is the best teacher. Young people must find their own goals and make the greatest efforts to pursue their dreams. Effort and sweat will never lie.”
Through the Winter Olympics, more and more teenagers fell in love with ice and snow sports. The head coach of the Chinese women’s ice hockey team said: “Generally speaking, the development of ice hockey in China needs to rely on the improvement of the youth level and the increase in the number of participants. I hope that following hosting the Winter Olympics, Chinese young people will Inspired to pursue the opportunity to participate in the Winter Olympics.”
Ice hockey is heating up in Beijing. In 2021, a total of 119 schools, 126 teams, and 1,730 athletes will participate in the Beijing Interscholastic Ice Hockey League for primary and secondary school students, and the number of games will reach 319. The 2021-2022 Beijing Youth Ice Hockey Club League will hold a total of 1,224 games, with nearly 3,600 players from 25 clubs and 256 teams participating. By the end of 2021, Beijing’s “ice and snow sports into the campus” have achieved full coverage in 16 districts, and regarding 2.1 million primary and secondary school students have been on ice and snow.
Including ice hockey, a large number of winter sports have flourished in China because of the Winter Olympics. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, as of October 2021, the number of participants in ice and snow sports in China has reached 346 million, and the goal of “driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports” has been achieved.
The nationwide “ice and snow sports fever” will surely drive young people to participate in sports more widely, change their lifestyles, and allow them to grow healthier and more vigorously.
Winter Olympics change the world
The successful holding of the Beijing Winter Olympics and the realization of the goal of “driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports” have changed the landscape of the world’s winter sports. This is China’s outstanding contribution to the world Olympic movement.
Liu Yumin, director of the Planning and Construction Department of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, said: “The most important legacy of the Beijing Winter Olympics is the realization of the goal of ‘driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports’.”
Yang Yang, Chairman of the Athletes Committee of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, said that sports have no borders and are shared by the whole world. By organizing the Beijing Winter Olympics, China has not only achieved the goal of “driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports”, but also provided new opportunities for the world ice and snow sports. development opportunities.
The development of ice and snow sports in China has brought huge business opportunities to the world. The major European and American ski brands have heard the news and have begun to deploy in the Chinese market. Germany’s Bogner, which produces skiwear and other products, announced that it will set up a joint venture with Chinese brand Bosideng and plans to open regarding 80 stores in China within five years. American sportswear company Volcom also opened its first store in China in Beijing in November 2021.
“As far as I know, foreign brands are very optimistic regarding the development potential of China’s ski market. I am afraid that any company with vision and ambition is not willing to miss this market opportunity.” said Wang Yuxiong, director of the Sports Economics Research Center of Central University of Finance and Economics.
Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, pointed out that China’s biggest contribution to the Winter Olympics is to achieve the goal of “driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports”. “Even if only a few of these 300 million people decide to become professional ice and snow sports practitioners, the global ice and snow sports will usher in a new development pattern in the future.”
The Winter Olympics is a node and a starting point. The many legacy left by hosting the Winter Olympics will be gradually revealed to the world in the days to come.