Mr. Carroll, CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC),

Mr. Lipshut, Chef de Mission for the Australian Winter Olympic Team,

Mr. O’Callaghan, President of Paralympics Australia(PA),

Ms. Kate McLoughlin, Chef de Mission for the Australian Winter Paralympic Team,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning!

Today, we gather here to celebrate the successful holding of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, and to relive the joy, warmth, inspiration and hope that the Olympic Movement has brought to people from various countries in the world. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to extend my warm welcome to all the friends present here, particularly the athletes who have participated in the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia for their strong support and participation in these two events.

The success of Beijing Winter Olympics is a success for the international Olympic movement and the entire world. Under the theme “Together for A Shared Future”, Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games have vigorously promoted the Olympic spirit and provided a platform for exchanges and mutual-learning between different cultures, bringing not only warmth and hope to people of all countries in the cold winter of COVID-19 pandemic, but also the power for peace and solidarity to today’s world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Australia is a leading sports nation, and has made important contributions to the development of the international Olympic cause. Team Australia worked hard in the Beijing Winter Olympics and achieved their best results in history. The well-known freestyle skier Jakara Anthony became Australia’s first Winter Olympics champion in Women’s Moguls, setting a new record for Australia in the Winter Olympics. Three-time Paralympian Tudhope won Para-snowboard cross bronze medal for Australia. We are glad that the excellent young sportsman is present at our celebration today. Meanwhile, we are also pleased to see that Australians enjoyed watching Beijing Winter Olympics, with Channel 7’s live coverage attracting more than 12 million Australian viewers.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Sports exchanges are an important part of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Australia, and have made positive contributions to deepening the understanding and friendship between our two peoples and promoting the development of bilateral ties. In the early 1970s, the exchange of visits between the Chinese and Australian table tennis teams played a prelude to the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia. China and Australia also mutually gave active support to and took full participation in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. At the end of last year, Chinese basketball players Zhou Qi and Liu Chuanxing joined the South East Melbourne Phoenix and Brisbane Bullets respectively, adding fresh vitality into the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia. This year will be an exciting year for China-Australia sports exchange. In the upcoming September, China’s Hangzhou will host the 19th Asian Games, and Team Australia will participate in the games for the first time. Also in September, Sydney will host the Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022. And July next year, Australia and New Zealand will co-host the FIFA Women’s World Cup. China will actively participate in both events.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friendship, which derives from close contact between the peoples, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations. Mutual understanding and friendship among peoples is the source of strength for the stable and sustainable development of China- Australia relationship. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia. We sincerely hope that both peoples could take it as an opportunity to carry forward the Olympic spirit to enhance bilateral sports exchange and cooperation, and work together for a shared future, so as to make new contributions to the sports and physical culture of both China and Australia and the international Olympic Movement as well.

Thank you！