Exceptional organization sets major precedent

The Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games have been "fantastic, extraordinary and excellent", a leading official from the organizing committee said on Sunday.

"IOC President Thomas Bach said the Beijing Winter Olympic Games can be considered very successful Games-exceptional Games staged under the impact of COVID-19. I would like to express heartfelt thanks to the International Olympic Committee for their strong support and to everyone who has cared for and participated in the Games," said Cai Qi, president of the Beijing organizing committee.

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed to stage a streamlined, safe and splendid Winter Olympic Games by adopting a green, inclusive, open and clean approach, and he paid five visits to the competition zones to oversee preparations, Cai said.

"Under the strong leadership of the Chinese government and thanks to enormous support from all walks of life, we have formed close cooperation with the IOC and various other stakeholders, and overcome the impact of COVID-19 and successfully completed all organizational tasks and served the Games," Cai said.

At Beijing 2022, a total of 2,877 athletes from 91 countries and regions competed for 109 gold medals. More than 45 percent of those athletes were women, an all-time high in the history of the Winter Olympics.

"The competitions have been fantastic, leaving deep impressions and beautiful memories on spectators and viewers all over the world," Cai said. "All competitions have been completed safely in a professional and fair competition environment.

"Athletes competed courageously to exceed limits, setting a number of new world records and Olympic records. This is a vivid representation of the Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger-Together."

Besides the competitions, the unique charm of Beijing, the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, and the thoughtful services that the city provided to all the participants were also valued by Cai.

"The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games has left Beijing with tangible and intangible legacies that root the Olympic spirit deep in the city's culture and ethos. For the Winter Olympics, colorful cultural events were held at 16 sites across the city. These sites have all become highly popular on the internet and local residents have been able to become part of the Games and enjoy the festive atmosphere close to their homes," Cai said, adding that many elements of traditional Chinese culture were included in the Games which overlapped with Spring Festival to welcome the Chinese Year of the Tiger.

"We have provided all stakeholders with thoughtful services, showing the sincerity and friendliness of the Chinese people," he said.

As the first global multi-sport event held as scheduled during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beijing Winter Games prioritized the health and safety of all participants. The organizers worked out and oversaw the implementation of the Beijing 2022 Playbooks and put in place a closed-loop management system.

"Our COVID-19 policy has been effective, setting a successful precedent for other major international events held during the pandemic," Cai said.

Themed "Together for a shared future", the Beijing Games have also left the city with rich legacies, including engaging 346 million people in winter sports, hosting the Games in a green and sustainable way, as well as being in keeping with the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Cai added.

However, with the Winter Paralympic Games opening on March 4, the work of organizers is far from done.

"We will continue to do our utmost to prepare for the Paralympic Games, and ensure that the two Games are of equal splendor," Cai said.