Games 'should not be political'

WARSAW－Sport should be apolitical and promote the values of the Olympic Movement, according to the president of the Polish Olympic Committee, who added that he expects China to stage a superb show for the world.

With the Games barely two months away, Andrzej Krasnicki believes that despite the difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, next year's Olympics will be a "wonderful, beautiful and well-organized" event.

"I wish all participants of the Olympics and organizers the opportunity to implement this wonderful event under extremely difficult conditions for the development of world sport," Krasnicki told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

The United States is among a handful of countries to opt not to send government officials to Beijing 2022 in a so-called diplomatic boycott of the Games.

In keeping with the International Olympic Committee's stance, Krasnicki opposes the decision.

"My opinion is very simple. Sport and politics are two important but different issues. We want sport to be apolitical and we want sport to promote the values of the Olympic Movement," he said.

"I would like all the athletes who have been preparing for the Olympics for many years to be able to take part in it."

Krasnicki added that he hopes next year's Winter Olympics will be as memorable as the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing as the capital becomes the first city to host both versions.

Expectations are high in Poland that the nation's ski jumpers can pick up medals in Beijing, however Krasnicki is also optimistic of good results in other sports.

"Ski jumping is the discipline in which we can achieve success, but I also see chances in short-track speed skating. Our outstanding short-track athlete (Natalia) Maliszewska has great potential and she has a chance to stand on the Olympic podium," he said. "Sport is unpredictable and that's why it is beautiful."

With the pandemic still a major concern, the safeguarding of participants' health is of paramount importance, so Krasnicki fully understands and supports China's anti-coronavirus measures.

He believes the country is perfectly prepared in terms of both infrastructure and pandemic prevention protocols.

"Safety is incredibly important. And the rules serve the most important thing, which is eliminating the danger linked to the infection and the pandemic," Krasnicki said. "I support all these decisions."

He added that, in different circumstances, spectators from around the world would ideally attend the Games, but ensuring everyone's safety and health is more important.

Xinhua