Dr. Geeta Kochhar. Despite the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus spreading across globe and a political debate flared up by some countries for the diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, China has vowed to present the world with safe and splendid Games. The 2022 Winter Olympics will take place from February 4 to 20, followed by the Paralympic Winter Games from March 4 to 13. Interestingly, with the institutional strength in mobilizing all resources, China is ready to welcome athletes from across the world with the official motto being “Together for a Shared Future”.
In his New Year speech addressed on December 31, 2021, President Xi Jinping stated that “China is ready” and “will spare no efforts to present great Games to the world.” The event will make the Chinese capital the first city in the world to host both summer and winter Olympic Games. It comes at an unusual time with the pandemic still surging globally; while China is adhering to ‘Zero tolerance’ policy against Covid-19. It will require China to use additional efforts in epidemic prevention and control, so that athletes remain safe and the show goes on smoothly. For the sake of safety, China has decided to forgo a big ceremony and attendance from international spectators.
According to Chinese proposition, President Xi is a sport lover and was personally involved in the country’s 2015 bid for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. During the preparation process, he visited the venues of the Beijing Games several times in order for the event to be held successfully, though the circumstances then were not what they are today. Yet, President Xi and his China team is pushing hard to make the games a success, no matter how the world has turned to odds with China on political matters.
President Xi personally inspected the preparations for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. He visited the National Speed Skating Oval, Main Media Center, Athletes’ Village, Games-time Operations Command Center and a winter sports training base to ascertain about the progress of work and met the Chinese athletes during preparations to boost their morale. During 2008 Olympics, China’s splendid performance was recognised globally and President Xi is leaving no stone unturned to make this event a much greater success to mark a leadership position in the world.
While the diplomatic and political games continue between and among nations, many supporters of games have come out praising China and its work to hold safe and secure games amidst the global turmoil. Olympic Games Executive Director of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Christophe Dubi said that China’s preparations for the upcoming Games, particularly venue construction and COVID-19 prevention and control measures, “should be given high marks in all aspects.” Richard Pound, a senior IOC member and former IOC Vice-President has also praised China’s preparatory work. Pound said that the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games have been smooth and orderly, and “the excellent organization and management will make the Games a success.”
China in recent times has been applauded for its tremendous efforts in dealing with the pandemics and is seen as having the right capacity to respond to COVID-19. With the hard work on preventing the spread and protecting the citizens against Covid-19, it is full of conviction to host the Winter Olympics safely with a live audience. Pound had also remarked that his experience convinced him, from a professional point of view, that “the Beijing Winter Olympics will be a spectacular success despite the challenges.”
Apart from the backlash from some countries, many international organizations and countries are expressing their support for Beijing to hold a successful Winter Olympics, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who have confirmed their attendance for the opening ceremony of the Games. Although, the politics around hosting the games is getting heated, China under Xi’s rule is promoting the narration that games are international sports’ events and need to be dissected from all kinds of politics. Yet, the contradiction of diplomatic boycott while supporting their athletes to participate in the Beijing games will unfold a new era in China’s global standing. With the top notch preparations and creating relevant conditions, the success of the Beijing games will place China in the leading position and put President Xi as the driver of a new world defined on his basis of “Common destiny”.
Dr. Geeta Kochhar, Assistant Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University; China Fudan FDDI Ambassador in South Asia
Dr. Geeta Kochhar, Assistant Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University; China Fudan FDDI Ambassador in South Asia.
