"We are very grateful to our friends in Beijing，actually because they are going to deliver extraordinary games even in a very challenging period," said Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., the chairman of the IOC coordinating commission for Beijing 2022, at an interview with Southern Metropolis Daily, N-Video when the Beijing Winter Olympics is just around the corner.
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He said that he feels happy and proud to see Beijing has dedicated enormous attention to sustainability, delivering on the promise of a carbon-neutral Games.
"Beijing is very well on track to deliver on a promise of 300 million winter sports loving people from the total population. Furthermore, they are going to deliver on their promise: to hold the first Olympic and Paralympics that all the venues powered by renewable energies, solar and wind, which are very innovative also, low carbon emission seals to refrigeration systems will be used in most of the venues."
As for Some western politicians calling for a "diplomatic boycott" of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Samaranch stressed that they need to keep that neutrality. "We are what we are, and we can do what we can do. We are here to organize the Olympic games as probably the only event on earth that puts together the youth of the world without discrimination, without difference of the race, the religion, the political system in which they live."
"We are convinced that these games are going to inspire thousands of children and young students on Olympic and Paralympic values. We'll have a lasting legacy, not only for the athletes, but for winter sports both in China and across the world." Samaranch Said.
Samaranch Jr. is the son of Juan Antonio Samaranch，the former president of the IOC, who blazed a trail for China's Olympic dreams. He was honored with the China Reform Friendship Medal at the grand gathering celebrating the 40th anniversary of the country's reform and opening-up in 2018.
Reporter｜YU Yijing
Intern｜ LIU Baiyi, ZHANG Ziyi
Editor | Wing, Olivia, Alice, Jerry
