Peking University, February 8, 2022: At 8 p.m. on February 4, the opening ceremony of the 24th Winter Olympic Games took place. All volunteers from Peking University (PKU) watched the live broadcast at their respective stations, immersing themselves in the excitement of the Olympics and exclaiming the slogan “Together for a shared future” in high spirits.

Grand Festivities: All Together for the Winter Olympics

15 days ago, 630 volunteers, 57 interns, 15 opening ceremony performers, and 902 medical staff set out together for a shared Winter Olympics dream. On the night of the opening ceremony, the countdown flame was ignited at the Beijing National Stadium, and in that instant, anticipations coalesced as PKU volunteers gathered under one sky to witness the unfolding of this grand event for the nation.


At the National Stadium, PKU volunteers participated in the opening ceremony with great passion and pride. Qu Wenxin, a volunteer and masters student from PKU Department of Philosophy, said, “As a volunteer who gets to experience everything in the flesh, when watching the opening ceremony, I had cherished every moment of every performance more deeply, felt the solemn and boisterous atmosphere of celebration more clearly, and gained more confidence to deliver professional services during the official games and showcase the demeanour and charm of young Chinese volunteers to the world.”




At the New Sun Student Center, PKU volunteers outside the “closed loop” watched the live broadcast of the opening ceremony together. Zheng Jichun, executive deputy secretary of the Educational Work Committee of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, accompanied by Chen Baojian and other officials, joined the viewing at the Student Center and expressed their support for the volunteers.  

At the Olympic Family Hotel in Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast, the Olympic Village in Jiuhua Resort, and PKU’s new Changping campus, volunteers from different stations gathered, whilst abiding by Covid SOPs, to watch the opening ceremony together. At every location, teachers and students alike were in high spirits.

Youthful Serenade: Cheering for a Nation’s Will


The Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony combined stunning cultural elements and spectacular light shows to present a stunning visual feat and demonstrate China’s resolve and capability to host a successful Olympics.
    
Following the winding melody of “My Motherland and I”, the five-star red flag began its slow ascent, and volunteers at the Olympic Family Hotel rose to sing the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China. Feelings of patriotism swelled along with the song, cementing convictions of duty, responsibility and loyalty among young volunteers.

9:51 p.m. marked the climax of the opening ceremony, where President Xi Jinping declared the 24th Winter Olympic Games open. B101 of the New Sun Student Center roared with cheers and applause. As the largest Chinese Winter Olympics delegation in history made its appearance, the five-star red flag shone beside five rings of ice, and all volunteers sang “Ode to the Motherland” in unison. It was a serenade of pride and honour by a new generation of Chinese youths.

Expectations: towards the future in the same spirit


As skaters glided across the arena, the new Olympic slogan “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” emerged in the National Stadium. Under the spotlight, the Olympic flame blazed in the center of a big snowflake.

As a barrage of fireworks lit up the night sky over the Bird’s Nest, students in New Sun Student Center burst into cheers, declaring their support for the PKU volunteers and their nation in this unforgettable moment.

Many volunteers shared their feelings of excitement about witnessing the historic occurrence of the Olympics during Chinese New Year. Anti-doping volunteer Hong Zijun from Law School said that the ignition ceremony was beyond expectation, but also in line with the hosting requirements of “simple, safe, and splendid”. Together with the Olympic slogan, the ceremony showed the Olympics as a symbol of humanities’ pursuit of peace and civilization. As a volunteer, he is willing to contribute to strengthening the volunteering team.


Li Jing, PhD student from Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies:
The gorgeous fireworks amazed Beijing and the world. The opening ceremony showcases the story of a snowflake and is also a romantic and poetic show of ice and snow. The Chinese elements presented China’s cultural confidence, while the innovative technology demonstrated China’s rapid development. “Simple, safe and splendid”, we presented to the world a marvelous gala that told the story of China in the new era. China overcame a series of difficulties during the pandemic and held the Winter Olympics on time, proving China’s power and responsibilities to the world. Together with people all over the world, the Chinese people hope to conquer the pandemic and create a brighter future. Let’s march together for a shared future and embrace a better tomorrow!

Li Ning, undergraduate from School of Basic Medical Science:
Today, we witnessed the opening of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The Olympic flame blazes in China once again, and the Olympics has welcomed another Eastern spectacle. Beijing is the first city to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics. As a Chinese, I feel very proud of my country. China is marching towards the center of the world stage. China is already prepared as the world looks on! The 2022 Winter Olympics is a special event, as it is the first global competition held in China since the outbreak of COVID-19. The Chinese people have been devoted to the prevention and control of the pandemic with effective results. The opening ceremony today highlights our confidence in the quality of our pandemic control. We welcome athletes and reporters from around the world, and hope to showcase our “Chinese charm”!  Here’s also to wishing that the Chinese athletes can achieve breakthroughs on the field! Together for a shared future!


Zhang Xu, undergraduate from College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering:
At 8 p.m. on February 4, I watched the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics together with my fellow anti-doping volunteers. After more than ten days of service training, we were looking forward to the start of the event that we’ll serve for and are proud of. Beijing, the first city hosting both the Summer and Winter Olympics, shoulders the expectations of the world and has been prepared for the task. We harbor the same ambitions—serving our country, embracing the world, showcasing the spirit of Chinese people and Chinese university students, supporting the Olympics and carrying forward its spirit, and dedicating a grand event to friends around the world.

Du Shuge, undergraduate from School of Foreign Languages:
Two days ago, the first competition was held in the National Aquatics Center. Hectic work, intense competitions and passionate partners seem to melt the coldness of this winter. After finishing my work last night, when I walked out of the Center, and noticed that the countdown sign had changed to “The opening ceremony is coming”, a strong feeling of longing filled my heart. Admiring this spectacle together with my fellow volunteers has been unforgettable. In the process filled with laughter, tears and warmth, I have been touched by my fellow volunteers’ hard work and amazed by the science and technology used during the Olympics. The combination of grace and tenacity and the strong bond between nations and the world exemplify the concept of a shared future for mankind. As the memories of the past Games converge in this instant, let us bear witness to history together from all parts of the world.

Written by: Chan Zi Qing, Wang Yunlin
Edited by: Li Wanqi
Source: PKU News (Chinese)