The Olympic flame has been lit. To light the brazier were two athletes, including a Uyghur, the cross-country skier Diniger Ylamuijang. Shortly before, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, had officially declared the Beijing Winter Olympics open.
During the ceremony, the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach , spoke, calling politicians from all over the world to respect the Olympic truce: “The goal is to unite humanity in all its diversity”.
“This is a mission that was approved by the United Nations with the resolution passed for the Olympic truce. Olympic athletes are peacemakers. I appeal to all politicians in the world: respect the Olympic truce, give peace a chance”.
“The year of the tiger and the Olympic year, synonymous with ambition and strength. China is a country of winter sports, over 300 million people are skiing in over 2 thousand resorts. It is an extraordinary result, which opens a new era for the winter sports”.
The ceremony took place in the Chinese national stadium, the “Bird’s Nest”. Totally armored. Freezing temperature, below zero.
Numerous heads of state and government were also present. Above all, the presence of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, who landed this morning at Beijing Capital Airport, stands out.
No official representatives, however, from the United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Who have thus decided to give their signal of protest against the violations of human rights in China.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, sent a video message to express the hope “that the Olympic spirit will go beyond these Olympics to remind everyone – participants and spectators – that we all belong to the same human family. limit to what we can achieve if we work together for peace, for human rights, for the health and well-being of everyone in the world “.
“In a world where we see so many expressions of populism, racism and xenophobia, of anti-Semitism and hatred against Muslims, – he added – the Olympics send a message of tolerance and respect demonstrating that it is possible to compete fairly and at the same time to fraternize “.
As per tradition, the first team to parade was Greece, at the end of a short opening show, amidst LED lights and laser beams. In the background, the words ‘welcome’ in all languages ​​of the world.
Ninety-one delegations competing. Most have chosen to have 2 standard-bearers: a man and a woman. Twenty-eight instead preferred to have only one. Among these also Italy, which has entrusted the tricolor to Michela Moioli, Olympic snowboard cross champion. Our flag had to be waved by Sofia Goggia, but due to the injury in Cortina, she and she were forced to postpone the start, and therefore also to give up the parade.
But positive news comes directly from the president of Coni, Giovanni Malago : “I received a private video from Sofia Goggia: and ready , she is coming back”.
As usual in recent events, fans from all over the world were able to follow the opening ceremony from a special and privileged “view”: the social accounts of numerous athletes.
