Beijing 2022 - through Fair Play eyes
The Winter Olympics in Beijing ended a few days ago. On this occasion, President of the International Fair Play Committee, Mr. Jenő Kamuti gave an interview about the event and the promotion of Fair Play in Beijing.
"For reasons we all know, we have once again had a special Olympics after the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. I congratulate on a successfully organized and conducted Olympic Games in the spirit of Fair Play, which the sport-loving public of the world has been privileged to see and hear via the different media channels. Now, that the Olympic Flame has gone out, we can say that the Olympics has set an example for world society and politicians alike.
In Beijing, the Olympic Movement were once again highlighted and strengthened, where events, contacts, competitions demonstrated the philosophy that the Olympic Movement make credible and feasible, that we can achieve together through solidarity, valuing and helping each other. It is also the idea of Fair Play, demonstrated by the competitors and leaders.
The CIFP, in cooperation with the IOC, before the Games has once again published a Fair Play call for outstanding Fair Play actions from the public. Beijing was special in this respect as well, as it resulted countless memorable moments. We all remember the Russian and Ukrainian aerial skiers embracing each other, the Finnish cross-country skier waiting in celebration for the last skier to arrive, the US speed skater giving up her place to his competitor, and while we are on the subject of ice, the Dutch skater slowing down on the speed skating track without hindering his Canadian opponent. The importance of Olympic participation was represented by the Jamaican bobsleigh team, as well as the Taiwanese skier, who, after his mistake, stepped back to the missed pole to go around it, and run the race with honor. There was no shortage of memorable moments of friendship this time either, with the Chinese curling team presenting special gifts to their US opponents, or the Czech Pairs figure skaters, who showed the world on their phones the photo os the Hungarian Pair who had been out in China but were unable to compete due to the Covid.
The Beijing Winter Olympic Games, as this list shows, will be forever remembered for moments like these. We know that there must have been many more acts of Fair Play beyond those mentioned above. Nominations are still welcomed until the end of the month, 28 February 2022, at the following e-mail address: fairplaybeijing@fairplayinternational.org
These great moments will be judged by an international jury. Remember, everyone wins with Fair Play."
