Peking University, February 7, 2022: On the evening of 4 February 2022, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony was held at Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest. The Ceremony which lasted slightly over an hour and a half, saw around 3000 performers presenting the Chinese culture and stories to the world. This was done by the spectacular audio and visual performance, which puts the “Together” Olympic motto into practice and presents a simple, safe and exciting Olympics. PKU is proud to have 15 of her students perform at the opening ceremony.
 

The ceremony integrated high tech, low carbon and sportsmanship into Chinese culture elements, showcasing characteristics of both the modern world and China. More specifically, the opening ceremony utilized Artificial Intelligence, Machine Vision, 5G and Cloud Systems technologies to form a splendid unique masterpiece.
Interestingly, the opening ceremony coincided with the beginning of Spring (also known as “Li Chun” in Chinese), the first of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunar calendar. Spring symbolises new beginnings, hope and the fighting spirit, thus bringing sincere blessings to athletes in the Games.
 


The 15 PKUers presented a “people-centred” national image on stage with the piece titled “Salute to the People”. Though come from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds, including six international students, they all value this precious opportunity and collaborate with responsibility, dedication and passion.  Zhang Hanbo, a graduate student at PKU School of Software and Microelectronics, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to walk on the National Stadium on his 24th birthday, which allowed him to share his joy with people around the world. The experience, according to Li Jiabin of PKU School of Earth and Space Sciences, is both a choice and a responsibility. PKU School of Integrated Circuits student Wang Qishen believes this invaluable experience will drive him forward. Dickson David Agbaji from Nigeria said that it is especially significant to perform at Beijing Winter Games, because Beijing is the only dual-Olympics city in the world.
 

Over the last four months, these performers have gone through a very competitive selection process, including 8 off-campus training sessions, 35 drills at the National Stadium and 5 grand rehearsals, each lasting an average of 10 hours. Cui Xinyi of PKU School of Foreign Language admitted that getting 76 people to walk in a straight line and represent youth in the performance was difficult, especially given the limited training time. But she said that the extreme precision with which each step is required reflects the performers’ utmost respect for the Winter Olympics. Martin McAllister Francis, an international student at PKU School of International Studies, appreciates PKU’s care and support during the four-month training period.

Many of them must strike a balance between Olympics performance training and schoolwork. Ren Zhuoran, a graduate student at PKU College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, postponed the trip to Harvard University as a visiting scholar to dedicate her time and effort to the Winter Olympics opening ceremony preparations. Wang Yichun, an undergraduate student from PKU School of Mathematical Sciences, sees the overlap between the rehearsals and PKU’s finals as a chance to help her cope with stress. Her time spent training for the Winter Olympics, she said, has added colours to her busy schedule.

Despite the difficulties, the 15 performers has developed a strong bond of friendship over the four-month training period. Donglona Adawa Thomas, an international PhD student from Chad, said that he has forged strong friendship, created fond memories and learned about different cultures during the four months of performance training.
 

With their uttermost passion, dedication, and high standards, the 15 performers have poured PKU’s youth energy and vibrancy into the opening ceremony. They “are ambassadors for Beijing 2022 Olympics and PKU to the rest of the globe”, according to Wang Xinyi, a PKU School of Foreign Languages undergraduate student. For the six international students, they also represent their beloved home country. Pozhidaeva Alexandra, a Russian student, expressed her pride in not only representing PKU, but also her country in the opening ceremony. Gao Xu recalled that the theme “Youth” was implanted in the performers during the training. “Youth”, in his perspective, is not only the hopes and dreams of the younger generation for a better future, but also the ability to face challenges, stay loyal to oneself and make a difference in society.
 

Their performance at the opening ceremony also deepens their understanding of the “Together” Olympic motto. "The opening ceremony was impressive because it brought together people from different schools and industries," said Bangladeshi student Sunny Md Mahedi Hassan. Jiang Sheng, a PhD student from PKU College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, feels that the togetherness is critical for everyone to overcome challenges and successfully host the Games, especially amid Covid-19.  Amangeldiyev Sapargeldi from Turkmenistan believes that the 15 PKUers symbolize PKU’s youthful and enthusiastic students, whilst also demonstrating the real China to the rest of the world. This aligns with the Olympic Motto of “Faster, Higher, Stronger, Together”, which promotes peace and friendship.
 

Apart from the 15 PKUers performing at the opening ceremony, PKU has also sent 630 volunteers, 57 interns and 902 medical staff to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, who shoulder huge responsibility and expectations for the Games to proceed smoothly.

Written by: Lee Xin Ying Rachel
Edited by: Ye Yimeng
Source: PekingUniversity (Wechat Official Account)