Ready for the Celebration
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will be held from February 4 to 20, which coincides with China’s grandest traditional festival
– the Spring Festival. The event will highlight folk customs such as dragon dancing and paper cutting, as well as the hospitality of the Chinese people, making it a must-see grand event of the fusion of sports and culture.
The Winter Olympics are not only a grand international sporting event, but also bring to light China’s achievements in sustainable development. From December 3 to 5, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board held a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on topics such as the sustainable development of the Olympic Movement. According to IOC President Thomas Bach, the ISO 20121 standard achieved by the organizing committee of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, which was the first event organizer in China that has been awarded this way, is a clear testimony of Beijing’s commitment to a sustainable event.
The measures and scope of the sustainable management system not only include protecting the ecological environment of the competition area, implementing low-carbon management, strengthening waste management, implementing sustainable procurement, cultivating a team of professionals with an international perspective and specialization in large-scale sustainable events, but also covers all departments of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou operation centers, and all related work.
The Beijing-zhangjiakou High-speed Railway and Yanqingchongli Expressway opened to traffic at the end of 2019, which shortened the distance between Beijing and Zhangjiakou. Chongli Town, which got rid of poverty due to the Winter Olympics, also presents a new appearance. Together with the venues in downtown Beijing and suburban Yanqing, it is ready to meet all requirements before the Winter Olympics. Till present, 20 competitions such as the World Cup and the World Championships have been confirmed. These events will not only be the final assessment of the management and operation of the venues before the Olympics, but also showcase the sustainable management system of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
On the International Volunteer Day on December 5, the Winter Olympics began to recruit 27,000 volunteers. Bach said he is confident that the Beijing Winter Olympic Games will have a broad international response. After participating in voluntary services, they will also spread the Olympic spirit of fair play, mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity, and the good memories of the Beijing Winter Olympics to the world.
On January 25, 2020, the Chinese New Year of the Rat will be celebrated along with family reunions, prayer ceremonies, celebration, and entertainment. This 2,000-year old traditional custom has changed along with the economic development and the way of life. However, the theme of reunion has never changed, because the Chinese people attach great importance to family, respect their parents, and believe that a peaceful family prospers. With the increase in incomes, many families choose to travel abroad during the Spring Festival. This holiday mode may not have firecrackers or feasts, but after a year of hard work, they will be satisfied with their income, as peace of mind resulting from improvement in working and living conditions brings joy to the family.
At the beginning of the New Year, let us together pray for the sustainable and peaceful development of the world and the happiness and well-being of the people of all countries!