By Guo Haiyan, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana

ON February 4, Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics grandly opened on the start of Spring Day, the first Chinese solar term of the year. The ethereal and romantic opening ceremony, fully representing oriental aesthetics, amazed the whole world. I read about Beijing Winter Olympics in the Guyanese newspapers, and I believe that many Guyanese friends have followed the streamlined, safe and splendid Games, virtually, via TV or the Internet.

Now, the Beijing Winter Olympics is more than halfway through, and will close on February 20. Around 2,900 athletes from 91 countries and regions have been competing fiercely in 109 events in 15 disciplines across seven sports.

The exciting moments of winning gold medals, or excelling oneself to create new records have constituted fabulous memories shared by athletes and audiences all over the world. Off the field, the passion of global sports fans has been lighted by the Games, and winter sports such as skiing, skating, ice hockey, curling, luge, and bobsleigh have become much more popular. The goal of “engaging 300 million people in winter sports” has been realised.

After 14 years, the Olympic flame is lit again in Beijing. Compared to 2008, what new things can the unique Dual Olympic City bring to the world today?

The Beijing Winter Olympics calls for unity and peace. The new Olympic motto, “Faster, Higher, Stronger — Together”, carries the dream of human beings for peace, solidarity and progress.

The official motto for Beijing 2022, “Together for a Shared Future”, is inspiring all the people not to isolate themselves, nor disrupt supply chains to protect against global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, but to bear in mind the original Olympic spirit, join hands in safeguarding world peace and overcoming difficulties, and walk towards a shared future, side by side.

Last December, the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the Resolution on the Olympic Truce for the Beijing Winter Olympics. 173 countries, including Guyana, co-sponsored the resolution, which demonstrated the high anticipation of mainstream international community for the successful holding of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Certain countries’ attempts to politicise sports have failed.

The Beijing Winter Olympics practises ‘green’ and low-carbon philosophy. The flame-lighting activity at the opening ceremony left everyone in thought.

The hydrogen-powered final Olympic torch that can be easily held up by one person was carefully placed into the middle of the snowflake cauldron made up of smaller snowflakes representing participating delegations, instead of lighting a giant torch that would consume a lot of energy, adding a profound meaning of “the whole world jointly guards a weak but bright fire” to this part, and “attaining to the broad and great while addressing the delicate and minute”. China has committed to achieving carbon-neutral during the Games.

The sports venues have conducted energy-saving renovations to ensure 100 per cent ‘green’ power supply during the events. For transportation and logistics, 85.84 per cent of the vehicles are powered by clean energy. All these concrete measures reflect China’s determination to reach the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, and to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country.

The Beijing Winter Olympics carries out COVID-19 prevention works in a responsible and precise manner. To hold Olympic Games under the circumstances of the persistent pandemic is a major challenge for governance, mobilisation and coordination capacity of the host country. China has overcome all difficulties, and has been ensuring that the Beijing Winter Olympics is held safely, and on schedule.

All necessary measures were strictly implemented, including prevention and control before or during travel, closed-loop management, and vaccine administration, so as to realise fine management in border-entry control, medical examination, and procedure for close contact with infected persons. These measures, on the one hand, guarantee the full participation of athletes, coaches and others working for the Games, and on the other hand protect the health of ordinary Chinese people, which shows China’s deep sense of responsibility for both foreigners and locals.

Although overseas audiences cannot go to China to watch the Games, the latest technologies such as ultra-high-definition live broadcast, artificial intelligence, 5G, have been used to provide a better virtual watching experience.

In the summer, 14 years ago, Guyana sent a delegation comprising the outstanding swimmer Niall Roberts, four other players and three officials to Beijing to participate in the 2008 Olympic Games. Nowadays, along with the Beijing Winter Olympics, China and Guyana have started the celebration of the 50-year relations.

I would like to extend my best wishes to Olympians from all over the world for making greater achievements in the Beijing Winter Olympics! May the peoples of China and Guyana enjoy deepening friendship in sports in the future, and China-Guyana relations keep developing steadily, and reaching new levels!