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Beijing Winter Olympics 2022
ChinaDiplomacy

China is ready: what ‘splendid’ Winter Olympics would mean for President Xi Jinping as VIP guests start to arrive

  • Observers expect Chinese leader to ride Games momentum to push development agenda and prepare the – country for post-Covid opening up
  • Western boycotts mean little to nationalist Chinese who see such moves as conspiracies to curb China’s rise, analyst says

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An Olympic torch is lit from the cauldron ahead of the relay in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
William Zheng
China is ready to present a “streamlined, safe and splendid” Winter Olympic Games to the world, President Xi Jinping said, as about 30 heads of state and government, royal families and international organisations began arriving in Beijing for the opening ceremony.
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Xi’s Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is among the high-profile guests expected at Friday’s event, even as most Western powers stay away amid a diplomatic boycott led by the United States over China’s human rights record.

Observers said while the West’s absence highlights the tough geopolitical challenges facing China, Xi is expected to ride on the momentum of the Games to push forward his development agenda and prepare the country for a gradual opening-up when the Covid-19 pandemic retreats.

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Beijing kicks off torch relay ahead of 2022 Winter Olympics

Beijing kicks off torch relay ahead of 2022 Winter Olympics
Addressing an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session from Beijing via video link on Thursday, Xi said China had played an active role in the Olympic movement since the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.

“From ‘One World-One Dream’ in 2008 to ‘Together for a Shared Future’ in 2022, China has taken an active part in the Olympic movement and consistently championed the Olympic spirit,” he said.

“The Olympic Winter Games will open tomorrow evening and the world is turning its eyes to China. China is ready. We will do our best to deliver to the world a streamlined, safe and splendid Games,” he was quoted as saying by Chinese state media.

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The February 4-20 Games make Beijing the first city to host both the summer and winter Olympics.

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