Sports and Technology Have the Power to Change the World

CHAPTER 10Green Technologies and Climate and Sustainability Initiatives: The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Beijing, a city that has already etched its name in the annals of Olympic history, once again took center stage on February 4, 2022. The world watched in awe as the Chinese capital became the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. But this time, the spectacle was not just about athletic prowess or international unity; it was a statement about sustainability, a blueprint for future Games to be as green as the emblematic Olympic rings. The Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Games was created as a symphony of sustainability. As the torchbearers, Dinigeer Yilamujiang and Zhao Jiawen ascended the steps of the National Stadium, the air was alive and filled with anticipation, but not with carbon emissions. The duo, both Millennials, were not just carrying the Olympic flame; they were carrying the hopes of a planet in dire need of environmental stewardship. The snowflake-shaped cauldron that awaited served not only as a piece of art, but also as a symbol of China's commitment to making these Winter Olympics a green affair. The cauldron, an intricate design made up of smaller snowflakes, represented the 91 delegations participating in the Games. As Yilamujiang and Jiawen placed the torch in the center of this giant snowflake, it rotated upward, transforming into the Olympic cauldron. Breaking from tradition, and Olympic history, the flame was tiny, yet it spoke ...