WINNING TEAMWORK

The Beijing Winter Olympics have attracted global attention. The various competitions have made for compelling viewing, and the participating athletes have praised the organization and said that it is a wonderful journey.

While people cheered on the athletes, they were also instantly amazed by the behind-the-scenes teamwork. If you turn the camera to the other side, you will see a group of people working diligently and conscientiously in logistical support jobs to help the Winter Olympics.

Who are they?

They are the cleaning staff on the U-shaped ice rink. They appear after each game. They perform their skiing skills and slide back and forth on the track with cleaners. The athletes are valiant in the competition, but during the break, the staff clean up the site.

They are the food caterers who conduct random inspections to ensure food safety at 3 am every day, and do their best to ensure it. They supervise in the back kitchen to guarantee that everything is safe.

They are the signal technicians. At night, the temperature of the snow sports site is close to-30 C, and the 3-kilometer track is covered with cameras. In order to prevent the equipment from freezing, the staff pad and insulate the cameras. In order to pick up the best sound effects, they need to lay audio cables and equipment on the mountain. Since the cable car can only go to the top of the mountain, the staff have to carry a 30-pound camera and climb to the designated positions on foot.

They are the medical staff. Hand sanitizers are placed in public areas; scientific and technological COVID-19 prevention measures are actively promoted, and disinfection robots roam and disinfect different areas.

The advanced and intelligent competition venues, strict and efficient COVID-19 prevention measures, the warm and comfortable living environment ... the meticulous service guarantees the success of the games.

The Beijing Winter Olympic Village is a safe haven. The closed-loop management approach is very effective, says Australian athlete Jakara Anthony, who won the gold medal for the women's moguls finals on Feb 6. The village implements strict disinfection regulations, and everyone wears mask and undergoes nucleic acid testing."This allows us to focus all our energy on the competition and on the snow track," she says. Her teammate Britt Cox says the work done by China and the International Olympic Committee in ensuring the health and safety of all is admirable.

Nearly 19,000 volunteers warm up inside and outside the arena with their enthusiastic and professional volunteer services. To celebrate the birthdays of foreign athletes, volunteers bake cakes in the Winter Olympic Village in advance and carefully design birthday cards.

Athletes often share the tempting food, comfortable rooms, and festive elements such as Spring Festival couplets and blessing characters in the village on social media. The Winter Olympics are not only an exciting event, but also a platform for people from different countries and regions to communicate with each other and enhance understanding.

Ali Shivni, former deputy minister of foreign affairs of Egypt says the Beijing Winter Olympics have made thoughtful and reliable arrangements in terms of transportation, epidemic prevention, food, clothing, housing and transportation, providing first-class guarantees for athletes to perform well in competitions."I believe that more people will fall in love with China because of the Beijing Winter Olympics," he says.

Many foreign athletes who have finished the competition and are about to go home said: "I have started to miss it before I leave."

"I like everything here, everything here is good."

"It is inseparable from their hard work."

"Those volunteers who have been doing their due diligence and striving to make this event perfect are also worthy of a medal."

"A pair of smiling eyes convey happiness and friendliness to all athletes."

Behind "thank you China, thank you Beijing" is the warmth that these guardians have brought to everyone with their hard work and sweat. "The reluctance to leave" is the best affirmation for them. They are not on the field, but they still shine.