AN ENDURING OLYMPIC LEGACY

Beijing 2022 has been a journey about both physical and human infrastructure: encompassing green construction and reuse of venues, and massive investment to fuel domestic participation in winter sports.

Several technologies were applied for the first time to realize a carbon-neutral event. All competition venues were powered with renewable energy, marking a first in the Games history. As a gesture of the Games' sustainable intent, the National Speed Skating Oval in downtown Beijing - which measures 12,000 square meters - is the first Olympic venue in the world to use carbon dioxide for making ice.

The impressive Big Air Shougang has seen world's top snowboarders flying down ramps built on the side of former cooling towers, but the gigantic ski ramp rising from a disused steel mill was designed with a bigger agenda: boosting the winter sports industry and tourism.

"The design of new solutions for the venues will be a sign for everyone else that it is doable," said Dubi.

"Sports venues and infrastructure are certainly the tangible legacies of the Games, but the human capital is possibly an even more impactful aftermath. Engaging and educating children and youths about the Olympic Games and Olympic values goes beyond sport," he added.

The world can expect the passion generated for winter sports to loom larger and longer, as more Chinese people become true-hearted winter sports enthusiasts due to the Games.

As of last October, around 346 million people -- about a quarter of the country's population -- have participated in winter sports since China's successful bid to host the Winter Olympics, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. China's winter sports industry is projected to achieve one trillion RMB in value by 2025.

China's fulfillment of its pledge to engage 300 million people in winter sport was praised by Bach, who hailed it as an "unprecedented, great achievement" and an important legacy of Beijing 2022.

"With over 300 million people now engaged in winter sports, with the great success of the Chinese athletes, the positive legacy of these Olympic Winter Games is ensured," said Bach.

"With the truly exceptional Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 we welcome China as a winter sport country."

And the inspiration derived from the 2022 Olympics goes far beyond sport.

"What we could learn is that in the Olympic movement if we are united, we can be extremely resilient," said Bach, adding that this has been demonstrated by organizing Olympics under the pandemic.

The Games could also very much contribute to expanding the global knowledge and better understanding of China's philosophy and ideas, said Muhammad Asif Noor, secretary general of the Pakistan Shanghai Cooperation Organization Friendship Forum.

The Games' motto of "Together for a Shared Future" corresponds to China's aspiration of building a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.