The “Spirit of Beijing 2022” themed exhibition, as part of the Dual Olympic Culture Promotion Series of the 16th Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival, was recently held at Beijing Chaoyang Foreign Language School in Chaoyang District and Dianchang Road Primary School in Shijingshan District. The exhibition aims to carry forward the spirit of Beijing 2022, spread the dual Olympic culture and allow the youngsters to embrace the spirit of Beijing 2022, that is, bear in mind the big picture, be confident and open, rise to challenges, pursue excellence, and create a better future together.

On 6 November, the “Spirit of Beijing 2022” themed exhibition kicked off at Beijing Chaoyang Foreign Language School (Primary School at No. 232, Huizhongli, Chaoyang District), which emphasizes foreign language learning while valuing the all-round development of students. As a way to combine foreign language learning with the exhibition, a group of bilingual volunteer guides was selected to provide related information in both Chinese and English to faculty and students during the week-long exhibition. This initiative was warmly received by faculty and students alike.

(Students from Chaoyang Foreign Language School visit the exhibition)

On 12 November, the “Spirit of Beijing 2022” themed exhibition opened at Dianchang Road Primary School in Shijingshan District. The school was an Olympic Education Model School for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, and was selected as one of the Schools with Winter Sport Programme in 2020.

The event began with the cheerful song The Red Scarf Is Flying High. Representatives of the school’s Young Pioneers presented bright red scarves to Liu Chaoying and Cao Wenfeng, two speakers promoting the spirit of Beijing 2022. Then, Liu Chaoying, a retired official from the Sports Culture Development Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China (China Sports Museum) and now Director of the Sports Collectors Committee of the Beijing Association of Collectors, donated to the school his treasured Olympic commemorative envelops, autographed by four Chinese Olympic champions: Xu Haifeng, Wang Liping, Li Na and Wu Jingyu.

(Liu Chaoying holds commemorative envelopes together with Xue Dong, Principal of Dianchang Road Primary School)

In his talk, Liu Chaoying recounted how he supported Beijing’s bid for the Olympics by collecting a million stamps and a million signatures to form an “Olympic Great Wall.” He also shared his inspiring journey of promoting the Olympic spirit by running with the Olympic torch, setting a new record for the longest total distance at Shanghai China Records. Cao Wenfeng, a farmer from Fangshan District of Beijing promoting the spirit of Beijing 2022, shared his touching stories of traveling to different countries and regions to promote China, the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics and the Beijing 2022 Games. Their inspiring stories resonated strongly with the teachers and students, drawing enthusiastic applause.

(Liu Chaoying speaks)

(Cao Wenfeng speaks)

After the talks, teachers and students proceeded to the exhibition area to view the “Spirit of Beijing 2022” themed exhibition. They attentively appreciated the rich connotations of the spirit of Beijing 2022, pausing to exchange their thoughts and feelings from time to time. The students were also eager to take photos at the “Dual Olympics” themed iconic location.

(Students pose for a photo)

This exhibition on campus also featured three Olympic sports experience activities, as well as a hands-on experience activity with the bamboo-related intangible cultural heritage. On the sports ground, students enjoyed the fun of floor curling, archery and pitch-pot. These stimulation activities enabled them to feel the charm of Olympic sports. Inside the classroom, students attentively wove “snowflakes” with bamboo and rattan under the guidance of the teacher. The students’ works are now housed in the school’s “Winter Olympic Museum.”

(Students get a taste of Olympic sports and the bamboo-related intangible cultural heritage)

Before the event started, speakers Liu Chaoying and Cao Wenfeng were appointed as “off-campus instructors” for a one-year term by Dianchang Road Primary School in Shijingshan District.