Skaters get Chinese in California fired up for Beijing

Chinese people living in the United States gathered to watch young figure skaters display their agility and grace at an exhibition in California on Monday ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Waving Chinese and US flags amid the chilly weather, Chinese students, Chinese-American elected officials and members of the community joined the Chinese consul general in Los Angeles and the Chinese American Federation at the Pasadena Ice Skating Center for the event.

Organizers said the event demonstrated the Chinese diaspora's support for Beijing's successful hosting of the Olympics and was meant to send well wishes to athletes around the world before the Games open early next month.

"Beijing will once again open its arms to welcome Winter Olympics athletes from all over the world. We are fully confident and capable of putting together a wonderful and outstanding Olympics to the world," said Zhang Ping, China's consul general in Los Angeles.

Mutual understanding

The Olympics not only provide an opportunity for athletes around the world to demonstrate their skills, but also a platform for fostering mutual understanding, enhancing cultural exchange and building friendships. Successfully hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics and the Paralympics is important to the world and to China, Zhang stressed.

Simon Shao, president of the Chinese American Federation, told the audience that the Olympic spirit is mutual understanding, friendship and unity, which demonstrate the well wishes of the Chinese and US people for the future of Sino-US relations, because mutual understanding leads to cooperation.

"This is the vision of world peace. I believe that with the joint efforts of the Chinese government, Chinese people and athletes from all over the world, the Beijing Winter Olympics will be a complete success," he said.

The 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will start on Feb 4.

Randy Winship, general manager of the Pasadena Ice Skating Center, said Beijing will become the first dual Olympics city－hosting both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

"Beijing is making history this year, and we wish them all the success," he said.

Winship, who has skated for 47 years, said he has "a special connection with skating in China".

He helped train Chinese coaches in Singapore and at a skating school in Shenzhen. Winship also directed the Skate Asia competition in Shenzhen in 2006, the largest recreational ice skating competition held in China－one of the highlights of his professional career.