Olympic spirit infuses Beijing schools

Students at Beijing's Dianchang Road Primary School are at the core of the Olympics, both geographically and spiritually.

Located just a kilometer away from the headquarters of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG), Dianchang Road Primary School is one of 200 such learning institutions in the capital selected to promote Olympic education on campus.

In the school's playground, fifth-grade student Chen Sanbao took aim at a target with a plastic imitation gun, showcasing the discipline of biathlon for his classmates.

"I have learned all about the event as well as skills from the Chinese national team," said the 11-year-old. "Now I am a 'little tutor' tasked with teaching my schoolmates."

According to Principal Xue Dong, the school has organized winter sports－including ice hockey, cross-country skiing, curling and speed skating－every semester for students since 2016.

In December last year, a curling lane made from real ice was set up at the school. Former Team China curling captain Wang Bingyu, who now works at BOCOG's sports department, is a regular guest at the school to coach the budding young curlers.

"I am truly excited, as we can curl on the campus now," said fourth-grader Wang Xinmo.

Apart from adding winter sports to the curriculum, Dianchang Road Primary School also teaches students Olympic values such as friendship, fair play, and a never-say-die attitude, as well as patriotism.

On Feb 4, which marked the one-year countdown to the start of Beijing 2022, each student and teacher recorded a video to express their wishes and expectations for the Games.

"Through various campus activities, we hope that our students can experience the charm of winter sports and get a real sense of Olympic participation," Xue said.

Xinhua