Resounding success of Olympics celebrated

Over the past year, the United States and some of its closest allies have tried to stir up a manufactured human rights issue in relation to China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, using it as a pretext for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Now, with the curtain having descended on the Beijing Winter Olympics and China winning worldwide acclaim for the success of the event, Washington's attempt to sabotage Beijing 2022 is viewed in hindsight with contempt and intense odium.

Participants have heaped praise on just about every aspect of the Games－from the incomparable competition facilities and venues to accommodations for the athletes and standby medical services at all hours.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach hailed the Beijing 2022 Winter Games as an unqualified success and said that the event has earned high praise from participating athletes and officials alike from around the world. According to the IOC, its social media accounts on all platforms have received over 2.7 billion visits for Beijing 2022, setting a record for Winter Olympics.

Indeed, nothing can be more convincing than the congratulatory remarks from Susanne Lyons, chair of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee board of directors and head of Team USA, on China's success in hosting the Games. She also conveyed the US athletes' positive feedback, despite their government's diplomatic boycott of the event.

China registered at least four significant achievements in hosting the Games.

First, it demonstrated excellent management. As the Games clashed head-on with the COVID-19 pandemic, the closed-loop management kept everyone safe under very challenging circumstances, and the fast-spreading Omicron variant was kept at bay.

The virus threat was averted as the innovative closed-loop system minimized contact among participants and with the outside world. Under the rigorously enforced system, all participants, including athletes, officials and media members, were required to move only between their training, competition and work venues and designated accommodation facilities via official transportation services to separate them from the local communities.

Its effectiveness was almost immediate, as within the loop, which covered over 14,000 participants, the number of confirmed daily COVID-19 cases quickly dropped to zero. As Bach said, "It was one of the safest places on the planet, if not the safest place, and this is a great achievement."

This can be attributed to the amazing teamwork behind the scenes, with staff members working diligently and tirelessly to ensure efficiency in logistics, catering, hotel services and cleaning. The 19,000 volunteers and the emergency medical staff all won the hearts and admiration of foreign athletes and officials for their courtesy and professionalism.

Second, the event saw a proud display of China's technological advances, covering artificial intelligence, facial recognition technology, simulation technology, smart venues, 5G network application, reduced carbon emissions, green electricity technology, carbon dioxide ice-making technology, smart transportation technology and cutting-edge venues that helped athletes to achieve their optimum performance.

Among the most impressive displays were the high-definition LED floor at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, AI self-service restaurants, hydrogen fuel buses and even a traditional Chinese medicine clinic that provided acupuncture therapy to relieve athletes' muscle pain. These proved to be eye-openers for many foreign participants. Most important, many of these breakthrough technologies will be incorporated into ordinary people's daily lives before long.

Third, the record-breaking success of Chinese athletes in garnering 15 medals, including nine gold－the third-highest gold tally－was particularly impressive, considering that most of the winter sports were unknown on the mainland barely 20 years ago. It was an impressive display of what Chinese athletes are capable of achieving through sheer willpower and hard work, despite lack of experience.

Fourth, there was the cross-national friendship spread by the Chinese athletes. There were many heartwarming stories behind the scenes, with competitors hugging each other while offering their rivals heartfelt encouragement and warm congratulations.

The interaction between Chinese mixed double curlers Ling Zhi and Fan Suyuan and their US opponents Christopher Plys and Vicky Persinger after a game when they exchanged gifts to show friendship and mutual respect was among the memorable moments of Beijing 2022, cementing the athletes' unplanned ambassadorial roles.

As Bach pointed out: "The unifying power of the Olympic Games is stronger than the forces that want to divide us.... May the political leaders around the world be inspired by your example of solidarity and peace."

The author is an adjunct professor at the University of Hong Kong's School of Professional and Continuing Education and a council member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies.