China has kicked off the 30-day countdown to the Beijing Winter Olympics with a plea for Australia and Australians to support and watch the Games.
In an online event co-hosted by the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney and the Australian Olympic Committee on Tuesday, the Olympic hosts implored officials, representatives and media to spread support for the country and athletes in the “true spirit of the Games”.
Alluding to recent announcements of diplomatic boycotts of the Games by a host of countries over human rights, Consul General Zhou Limin said hosting the Olympics was “a huge challenge for any country”, especially during a pandemic, but insisted his nation was ready.
“Recently there has been some noise in certain countries about the Beijing Winter Olympics. In this context today’s event has reflected our multiple good wishes,” Zhou said. “Together we look forward to a splendid international sporting event […] The Olympic Games is about solidarity and friendship […]
“It’s also a stage for people of all countries to enhance mutual understanding. We hope you will continue to learn more about China and the Chinese culture through sports […] and friendship between our two peoples. We respectfully encourage Australian friends to watch the Games.”
Wang Xining, chargé d’affaires for the Chinese embassy in Canberra, said China and Australia had been mutually supportive in the past. He recalled when his country bid for the 2000 Games and lost to Sydney.
Plea for mutual support: Wang Xining, Chinese chargé d’affaires in Canberra, during the countdown event.Credit:Screenshot
“My memory is still fresh […] although we lost out to Sydney by just two votes, in the years that followed China gave its full support to Australia’s effort to host the Sydney Olympics.
He said when Beijing won the 2008 Summer Games it received “huge support from our friends in Australia and the sports community”.
“Today, the COVID pandemic shows no sign of a complete ending, the world seems to have become more volatile, polarised and disturbing. The Beijing Winter Olympics come at such special moment […]
“We believe sport has no borders,” he said adding it was China’s hope the world would unite under the Olympic banner to “together tackle the pandemic, climate change and other global challenges”.
Australia will will play their opening match in the curling on February 2.
The hosts also twice brought up a United Nations resolution adopted on December 2 – it recognised “the unifying power of sport” in development and peace – to emphasise their understanding that most countries were behind the Games, despite some diplomatic push back.
Australian officials and guests echoed the sentiment and aired a video by Australian athletes who proclaimed their excitement to not only take part in the Games, but also “for the love of the people and the culture”.
Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Geoff Lipshut said he was encouraged by the test events that have taken place in Beijing in recent days and understood the venues to be “absolutely excellent”.
He said Australian athletes were still taking part in qualifiers in Europe and North America until the last minute, and would be in Beijing from the end of the month.
Australia will face Sweden in mixed doubles curling on February 2 and the hosts on the following day, ahead of the Games’ official opening on Friday February 4.
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