Dazzling ceremony scenes put solidarity to the fore

Figures around the world have hailed the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics as "innovative" and "impressive", reflecting the depth of the Chinese civilization and "a spirit of friendship, sharing and cooperation" that sets an example for future host countries.

Abdulla Shahid, foreign minister of the Maldives and president of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, said in a tweet on Saturday that he felt honored to join other dignitaries at the welcoming banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Games.

"It was indeed, a memorable visit to Beijing. The Olympics are truly a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, an ode to peace and harmony, and to the values of solidarity and universality that we all cherish. Good luck to all athletes!" he said.

About 3,000 performers participated in the opening ceremony on Friday, which was attended by more than 30 state leaders, members of royal families and heads of international organizations.

The ceremony was "innovative", Egypt's state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said in a headline on its website, quoting Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, or IOC. "Today, we can say that China is a country for winter sports."

Dennis Munene, executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Africa Policy Institute, said China's mission is to host a "green, inclusive, open and clean" Olympic winter games.

"Achieving this great milestone, China engaged 300 million Chinese in sport on snow and ice. … The world needs to commend China for its exemplary work in organizing the Games despite the difficulties and challenges brought about by the outbreak of the COVID-19."

Carlos Miguel Pereira, Cuba's ambassador to China, said in a tweet on Saturday that it was "an immense honor to attend the inauguration of the Winter Olympics along with my embassy colleagues. A new and powerful victory for China and the international community in the face of the repeated attempts of the US to politicize and divide."

Karori Singh, former director and emeritus fellow of the South Asia Studies Centre at India's University of Rajasthan, said the Olympics over the past 125 years have reflected "a spirit of friendship, sharing and cooperation" by renouncing any kind of conflict.

Innovative technologies

Betty Yuan, chief executive of the Northern California Chinese Athletic Federation, said: "I'm moved by the opening ceremony, especially the performance of the children from rural areas and athletes from all the different countries participating in this event."

"It really represents the theme－'Together for a Shared Future'. I'm especially impressed by the innovative technologies and green technologies employed in those facilities," Yuan said.

"I think it's a great opportunity to promote the innovation in the world through the Olympic Games and set an example for future host countries.

"From the 2008 Olympic Games to the 2022 Winter Olympics, I think the Chinese are becoming increasingly confident, and the Chinese deliver on promises. As an overseas Chinese, I'm deeply proud of the 2022 Winter Olympics."

Dick Muri, mayor of Steilacoom in the US state of Washington, said his favorite part of the Olympics was watching the parade of athletes in the opening ceremony.

"Watching the giant slalom is my favorite event to watch. Next favorite is the speedskating."

Dicky Budiman, an epidemiologist at Griffith University in Australia, said: "The Olympics are supposed to celebrate diversity and inclusion, and the symbol of hope, unity, solidarity and peace. Those values are needed more than ever as we fight COVID-19 together."

Xinhua, Linda Deng in Seattle, Liu Hongjie and Zhao Ruinan in Beijing contributed to this story.