Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., Vice President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) makes a report on the activities of Beijing 2022 at the 134th IOC session in Lausanne, Switzerland, June 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Cao Can)
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. is delighted with the way that preparations are proceeding ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and highlights the effect it will have on opening China to the world of winter sports
MADRID, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. is delighted with the way that preparations are proceeding ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and highlights the effect it will have on opening China to the world of winter sports.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Samaranch, who is the son of the man who helped to take the 2008 summer Olympics to Beijing and the Chairman of the Coordination Committee for Beijing 2022, said it was "a pleasure to lead and chair the coordination commission because everything is being done professionally and efficiently."
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. , vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) attends the launching ceremony of the book "President Samaranch", in Beijing, capital of China, May 10, 2019 (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)
"We have a counterpart who is very experienced," he said, adding that the experience from 2008 was a major benefit to the project.
"The organizing committee know where they have to go and they know the challenges they will be facing each step of the way," he said.
But Beijing having organized the 2008 summer Games has another benefit, according to Mr Samaranch.
"The Chinese people are already very in touch with Olympic values and the Olympic spirit, so they are already getting excited very soon. Even though there are still two years before the Games we can feel that excitement growing," he commented adding that the interest in sports would make President Xi Jinping's aim of getting 300 million Chinese people involved in winter sports was "going to be achievable during the Games, thanks to that Olympic DNA."
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. , vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Beijing, speaks during the Signing Ceremony of Green Power Supply for Beijing 2022 Games Venues in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Mr Samaranch also looked ahead to beyond 2022 at the legacy of the forthcoming Winter Olympics, both in sporting, economic and social terms.
"China became a major player in summer sports after 2008 and I would be very surprised if China doesn't take such a prominent position in winter sports after the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing," he predicted.
The Games "will bring over 300 million Chinese people into the world of winter sports and the discovery of winter sports will make China an even more sporting country, which will have the added benefit of being good for the nation's health," explained Samaranch.
Meanwhile in social and economic terms, he highlighted the infrastructure, such as improved road and rail links that are being worked on for the Games.
"China is the second most powerful country in the world and is rapidly closing the difference in GDP with the USA. 2008 was the time to open China to the world, now I think 2022 will see the consolidation of multilateralism and China being a leader in world affairs."
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. , vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) addresses the launching ceremony of the book "President Samaranch", in Beijing, capital of China, May 10, 2019 (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)
Finally Mr Samaranch said he was confident that the current health crisis over the Covid-19 coronavirus would not be an issue in 2020 and he praised Chinese authorities for their handling of the crisis.
"The coronavirus is very serious health situation, but it is not a Chinese situation. It happened in China this time, but viruses don't understand borders -- they appear where they appear. What we can take away from this crisis is that many places around the world have praised the transparent, efficient and strong reaction by the Chinese authorities."
"The population and the administrators of the Chinese government are giving the world an example of how to cope with a very serious thing," he concluded. ■
