"The 2008 Olympics were a powerful source of soft power for China as it aspired toward global influence. "The Chinese Communist Party will be hoping that the Winter Olympics 2022 can do something to reverse this position." Unlike Tokyo's Summer Games, delayed a year by COVID-19, there has never been much doubt that the Beijing Games would take place - no matter what. "I feel like the 2008 Olympic Games was very grand, it was a spectacular show to the world," said Ye Wenxiaoyu, a 20-year-old Games volunteer. "This year's Winter Olympics will be very simple and very low-carbon - but of course, this will not affect how wonderful it will be."

Source: The Star January 29, 2022 05:56 UTC