Beijing Winter Olympics will use 100% clean energy

Beijing, January 1 (Xinhua) with the arrival of 2021, Juan Antonio Samaranch (junior Samaranch), member of the International Olympic Committee and chairman of the Coordination Committee of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, said that despite the difficulties faced by the epidemic in 2020, the progress made in the preparation of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games is still remarkable.

"Affected by the new crown epidemic, the test project is facing challenges, but other preparations for the Winter Olympics are progressing smoothly," Samaranch said in the video of new year's greetings.

"In the past few months, we have witnessed some important milestones, such as the launch of the global collection of medals, torches and fashion designs, which have been very successful. Important conferences such as the world broadcasters conference and the world media conference have also been successfully held through video. One year after the global recruitment campaign started, about 1 million people expressed their willingness to become the host of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing "I'm a volunteer," he said.

In his view, the Winter Olympics will inspire a generation of winter sports enthusiasts and become an environmentally friendly and sustainable Olympic Games. "The Beijing Winter Olympics will use 100% clean energy, such as the new carbon dioxide refrigerant used in the ice making process of the Olympic Games for the first time, which will make the winter Olympics more green, and the Beijing Winter Olympics will be the cleanest Olympic Games in history."

Samaranch junior also said the Beijing Winter Olympics will promote tourism and create more employment opportunities for people in the region. Many schools in China offer winter sports courses to promote Olympic education.

Samaranch said that despite the challenges and obstacles, China is still fulfilling its commitment to bid for the Olympic Games. With the completion of the competition venues at the end of 2020, the celebration of the first anniversary of the countdown to the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games is about to take place. The activities are advancing and the passion is gradually burning.

"Of course, we will also face challenges. We all know that it is the new epidemic. Our response working group has been in place, fully prepared for all possible situations."

"In order to host a successful Winter Olympics, the experience and expertise of the local organizing committee, the support of the Chinese government and Beijing municipal government, and close cooperation with the Olympic and Paralympic Games and other stakeholders will ensure that we are stronger, which is crucial for Beijing to host an excellent Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2022," he said.

Samaranch also expressed his gratitude to Xinhua news agency, as an international news agency recognized by the International Olympic Committee, for its outstanding work in promoting the Olympic values and the Beijing Winter Olympics in China and the world in 2020.