Xi jinping: I care more about the impetus and vitality of the Winter Olympics for China than the gold MEDALS Jan 27

Beijing, January 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Thursday afternoon.

Xi Jinping said today is the Chinese Lunar New Year, which will be celebrated in a few days. Welcome to Chinese New Year with us this year.

After more than six years of preparations, all preparations have been made and the Beijing Winter Olympics will be held smoothly as scheduled, Xi said. We will honor our commitment to deliver a simple, safe and splendid Olympic Games to the world. It is the first global comprehensive sports event to be held as scheduled since the outbreak of COVID-19. It is a successful practice of the New Olympic motto of "Faster, Higher, Stronger -- More United".

Xi Jinping pointed out that China's hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics has not only the support of the Chinese people, but also the support of the international community. Nearly 3,000 athletes from about 90 countries and regions participated in the Winter Olympics. It was the largest winter Olympics in terms of events and gold MEDALS, providing more athletes with an opportunity to realize their dreams here. We take athletes as the center, and make every effort to ensure the hardware and software of venue facilities and provide all-round services. We are fully confident to protect the health and safety of the participants and the Chinese people.

Xi Jinping stressed that as early as the bid, I proposed that the biggest goal of China's hosting this time is to encourage 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports. Through unremitting efforts, this vision has been successfully realized. As a Chinese saying goes, "Ice and snow are also gold and silver mountains", the hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics has also promoted the development of China's ice and snow sports industry and ice and snow economy. China's hosting of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games has aroused the Chinese people's enthusiasm for the Olympic Movement, boosted the development of Sports in China and played an important role in spreading the Olympic spirit around the world. The "greater unity" advocated by the Olympic Movement is exactly what is needed today. It is better for all countries in the world to share a bigger boat than in more than 190 small boats for a better future. That is why we put forward the slogan of "Together for the Future" for the Beijing Winter Olympics. China will make new and greater contributions to the Olympic Movement and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. I look forward to witnessing with you the important opening of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

Bach first congratulated the Chinese people on a happy New Year and auspicious Year of the Tiger. Bach said that with the joint efforts of relevant Chinese authorities and the Chinese people, the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games have been excellent and smooth, and the splendid venues, comprehensive epidemic prevention measures and advanced concept of sustainable operation are admirable. We applaud China for its efficiency, determination and dynamism. I thank The Chinese side for the warm hospitality and thoughtful arrangements for the IOC and athletes from all over the world. I believe the effective measures taken by the Chinese side will ensure a safe, smooth and successful Olympic Games and allow athletes from all over the world to gather in Beijing for the great event. We have full confidence in this! China has achieved the goal of more than 300 million people participating in snow and ice sports. This is an unprecedented achievement. It will be a significant contribution to the Chinese people and the International Olympic Movement, and will usher in a new era of global snow and ice sports. This is the first time for some countries to send delegations to the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, which fully demonstrates the broad support of the international community for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and the widespread opposition of the international community to the politicization of sports. I hope the Year of the Tiger will not only be a year of courage and strength, but also a year of health and happiness for the Chinese people. The Beijing Winter Olympics will be the world's best gift to the Chinese people in the Year of the Tiger! May the world become more united!

Source: Official wechat accounts of Xinhua News Agency and CCTV News