From Beijing to Milano Cortina

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games have contributed to knowledge, know-how and human relations. By using the Winter Games to associate sports with culture and education, China has facilitated the development of collective consciousness across countries.

In the spirit of the slogan, "Together for a shared future", athletes from across the world competed against each other on the sports field, but off-field they were full of mutual respect and spent their time at the Games in perfect harmony.

The most appreciable elements of the closing ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics were children who, as protagonists of the show, celebrated International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach's message: "We are equal".

The Olympic Games symbolize peace and unity, the future road to togetherness. The Games are about celebrationa message to the world, especially to youths, a message to humanity to stay together to realize the Olympic Dream.

Accurate and perfect organization marked the 2022 Winter Olympics. In China, we enjoyed a very high-level edition of the Winter Olympics, both from the perspective of sports, with exciting competitions, and organization, thanks to the efficiency of the organizers.

The success of the Beijing Winter Olympics means the passing of the rich Olympic heritage to Italy, which was solemnized with the handing over of the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games' flag to Milano Cortina. For sure, Italy will ensure environmental sustainability, and try to improve it, while deepening its cooperation with China in sports, which in turn will boost commercial exchanges between the two countries.

Provided by a moral strength and an involved educational value to discover the real meanings of sport and ethics, the Olympic culture contributes to the affirmation of sporting ideals and the development of Olympic values as instruments of line-up and the raising of human beings: this is the message that promotes the exchange between Italy and China through the Games.

The Sino-Italian friendship has been strengthened by the Winter Games. And because 2022 is the "China-Italy Year of Culture and Tourism", exchanges and cooperation between the two countries will see major growth through to the year 2026.

At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, Italy will adhere to the principle of sustainable development and promote technological innovations as the host country, as it has to keep up with the high standards set by China during the Beijing Winter Olympics.

For Italy, Milano represents the future and Cortina sustainability. The cities of Milan and Cortina, along with the support of the Lombardy and Veneto regions, and the Trento and Bolzano autonomous provinces will join forces to create a memorable edition of the Winter Games.

We have seen how the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics united the world. After all, the Olympics Games are about uniting humanity, building bridges and tearing down barriers.

The Sport Cinema and Television Federation, with the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, has already launched six projects to spread the Olympic message and values for "Generation 2026".

The federation will develop a special program for international initiatives and conduct an "ideal relay" with Beijing, starting from the "Olympic Year" through to a photography exhibition "Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics". The idea is to blend sports and culture, and spread sports education using the power of images.

Telling stories about an adventure or a challenging sport through cinema, TV, the internet or other media means contributing to the spread of knowledge and know-how and improving human relations. "What we will be tomorrow, we build it today as our ancestors did in the past". If a generation disregards history, it will not have a past but more importantly, it will not have a future either.

Communication plays a critical role in the cultural promotion of a host country, and photographs can help promote that culture. So we should use traditional media and new media in such a way that educational and cultural messages reach young people all over the world, and inspire them to take up sports using the advantages created by the rapid development of technologies, including digital technologies.

Olympic Truce promotes peace. And along with photographs and reports of a great event, accounts of human dignity, portrayed from every angle, can help bring people back on the path of peace and brotherhood.

The author is the president of the Federation Internationale Cinema Television Sportifs, an organization recognized by the IOC. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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