From July 26 to 30, the “European Youth Elite Winter Olympics Tour in China,” hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and organized by the Beijing and Hebei People’s Associations for Friendship with Foreign Countries, took place in Yanqing, Beijing, and Zhangjiakou. Benjamin Kaden, a German teacher at the North China Institute of Aerospace Engineering (NCIAE), was invited to participate in the event as a representative of Hebei Province. He joined more than 50 young professionals and international students from 17 European countries, representing 10 provinces and cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Shandong.

At the launch ceremony on July 27, participants received a briefing from the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on preparations for the competition venues, the Olympic Village, and transportation infrastructure. They also heard seven members of the Beijing Winter Olympics Campaign Group share vivid and touching stories, offering insights into their personal connections with the Games and reflecting the Olympic spirit, as well as the enthusiasm and expectations of people across China for the Winter Olympics.

Over the following days, the delegation visited the Beijing Shougang Park headquarters of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee and the Shougang Big Air venue. They traveled to the Yanqing competition zone to tour the exhibition and display center, competition venues, and the Olympic Village, with a focus on venue construction and post-Games utilization plans. The group then visited the Zhangjiakou competition zone, where they explored the Olympic venues and a winter sports-themed town, gaining a firsthand understanding of the spirit behind the Beijing Winter Olympics.

In his remarks, Benjamin Kaden reflected on the rapid development and transformation he has witnessed in China since beginning his work in the country in 2015. As a geographer, he also shared his distinct impressions from the tour.

Excerpt from Benjamin Kaden’s Speech During the Event:

“One word that has been mentioned many times during this event is ‘sustainability.’ As a geographer specializing in the environment and ecology, I have a particular interest in this topic. I am deeply impressed by the important role sustainability plays in the organization of the Beijing Winter Olympics. For example, the buildings in the Taizicheng Olympic Village use façade materials made from recycled construction waste, and the roofs feature anti-reflective coatings designed to prevent birds or insects from colliding with them. The village also includes hidden water storage tanks to collect and utilize melted snow and rainwater without affecting the surface water. Additionally, I noticed numerous solar-powered streetlights and large wind turbines that generate renewable energy. Sustainability here not only means reducing environmental impact but also ensuring the long-term, effective use of new facilities. I learned that after the Games, these venues will be repurposed for tourism, so thoughtful planning has gone into their future use—something not every Olympic host city achieves. I believe the Olympic site truly demonstrates that these principles have been well implemented. I have no doubt that the 2022 Winter Olympics will be a great success. China has already proven its capability to host an event of this magnitude with the 2008 Summer Olympics.”