On the evening of 10 May 2019, renowned Chinese Olympians and pop stars joined some 1,500 people at Beijing’s Olympic Park to celebrate the 1,000-day countdown to the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

Olympic gold medalist Wu Dajing, Para snowboarder Pang Qiaorong, actor Jackie Chan, and International Olympic Committee Vice Presidents Juan Antonio Samaranch and Yu Zaiqing joined Cai Qi, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and President of Beijing 2022, together with other executives of the Organizing Committee, to launch a countdown device on Linglong Tower that looks over the Bird’s Nest, the Water Cube, and other Beijing 2008 venues.

The appearance of the number “1,000” on the huge LED screen situated between the 4th and 7th stogeys of the 132-metre tower was met with applause and cheers from the crowd. The body of Linglong Tower, a broadcasting facility for Beijing 2008, comprises stacked glass pyramids, which effect a building of sandglasses. One of the favourite spots for the tens of thousands of residents and tourists who visit the Olympic Park every day, the tower is a fitting venue from which to count down to the first Olympic Winter Games in China.

Sun Nan, Jike Junyi, Chang Shilei, Yuan Weiya, and other Chinese singers performed for the audience alongside kindergarten children, school and university students, and dancers from the Chinese Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe.

Chen Jining, Mayor of Beijing and Executive President of Beijing 2022, noted that with the start of the 1,000-day countdown, a new stage of Games preparations begins.

“We will fully and faithfully implement President Xi Jinping’s instructions on Games preparations. Committed to a green, inclusive, open, and corruption-free approach to hosting the Games and in compliance with Olympic Agenda 2020, we will deepen exchanges and cooperation with the IOC, and endeavor to deliver a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” Chen said.

Yu Zaiqing, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, congratulated Beijing 2022 for making strong progress in Games preparations, especially the efforts made to engage millions of people with winter sports.

“For the first time, the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will bring the excitement of Olympic sport on snow and ice to China. Building on the legacy of 2008 and guided by Olympic Agenda 2020, these Games will inspire a new generation with the Olympic values,” Yu said.

Beijing 2022 released an Action Plan on Volunteer Services during the ceremony. Zhang Jiandong, Vice Mayor of Beijing and Executive Vice President of Beijing 2022, announced that Beijing 2022’s Volunteer Program will officially launch in December 2019.

A total of 27,000 Games-time volunteers will be recruited for the Olympic Winter Games, and 12,000 Games-time volunteers recruited for the Paralympic Winter Games, Zhang revealed.

Chinese Olympic gold medalists Yang Yang, Zhang Hong, and Han Xiaopeng, sprinter-turned-skeleton slider Zhang Peimeng, and actors Wu Jing and Tong Liya took to the stage to invite people from around the world to sign up for Beijing 2022’s Volunteer Program.

The 1,000-days-to-go celebration was preceded by a signing ceremony inside Linglong Tower between Beijing 2022 and State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), which became the ninth Official Partner of the Games, adding to the success of Beijing 2022’s Marketing Program.

Preparations for the Games have been picking up speed across the board. Mascots are expected to be unveiled in the second half of 2019, and by the end of the year, several new venues will be completed and ready for the first test events.

In another exciting launch, Beijing Television (BTV) introduced its new Sports and Documentary Channel at the 1,000-days-to-go ceremony. The nationwide satellite channel will increase Beijing 2022-related coverage. It will also broadcast more competitions to meet the growing demand for winter sports content as the Games draw closer.

Beijing 2022 Executive Presidents Gou Zhongwen (Minister of the General Administration of Sport), Xu Qin (Governor of Hebei Province), and Zhang Haidi (Chairperson of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation) also attended the celebration at Beijing’s Olympic Park. The event was broadcast on Beijing Television and also live-streamed on major Chinese websites.

The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will take place in February 2022, coinciding with Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), the most important holiday in China. Interspersed by the Great Wall and steeped in history, the three zones of Beijing, Yanqing, and Zhangjiakou will host 109 events in 15 disciplines of 7 sports.

A variety of events — including photo contests, flash mobs, performances, art exhibitions, volunteering drives, sporting competitions, and a marathon — have been planned for the weekend of 11-12 May to celebrate the 1,000-day countdown in Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou, as well as in cities like Shijiazhuang and Qinhuangdao.

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