The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics were "extremely successful", with organizers deserving praise for overcoming difficulties and hosting the gala very competently and showcasing "unity and splendor on an unprecedented scale", said an Australian observer.
Colin Mackerras, a Sinologist and emeritus professor at Griffith University in Australia, said the Olympics showed "China at its most confident, competent in terms of management and technology, and brilliant culturally and economically".
Alrededor de 2.900 atletas de 91 comités olímpicos nacionales y regionales participaron en los Juegos, lo que permitió a Beijing ser la primera ciudad en albergar las ediciones de verano e invierno de los Juegos Olímpicos.
China no solo ha tenido éxito en la implementación de sus medidas contra la COVID-19 durante los Juegos, sino también en general, dijo Mackerras.
"China was very early to use lockdown as a preventive measure, and the policy remains to try and stamp out the disease. This is in contrast to the West," he said.
"Beijing has just held an extremely successful Winter Olympics and strengthened relationships with countries like Russia, Pakistan and Argentina, with heads of state visiting Beijing for the Games."
President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who attended the Games' opening ceremony on Feb 4, had signed numerous economic agreements on behalf of their countries. The long joint statement issued by them after bilateral talks suggest that the friendship between the two sides will continue to grow, Mackerras said.
Meanwhile, the Western powers appear to explore new Cold War approaches, which Mackerras said is "an extraordinarily unwise policy, especially in a world where cooperation is essential against the ongoing pandemic and climate change, among many other issues".
Mackerras también se preguntó por qué algunos funcionarios estadounidenses habían culpado a China por darle al joven atleta uigur Dinigeer Yilamujiang el trabajo de encender el pebetero olímpico en la ceremonia de apertura.
"They are reported to have said it was hypocritical since China was practicing 'genocide' against the Uygurs," he said.
"I think it is ridiculous and also treacherous to suggest China is practicing genocide against the Uygurs," he said.
"The US should be ashamed of (its) open attempt to undermine China's admirable management of the Games."
"My view is that it was fine to give the young Uygur athlete this opportunity," he said, adding that he "loved" seeing all of China's 55 ethnic minority groups represented at the opening ceremony.
Las cosas salieron bastante bien en los Juegos, dijo, expresando su admiración por Beijing como sede de los Juegos Olímpicos de Verano e Invierno.
