JOSE ANTONIO VERA, Director of Publications from Spanish daily newspaper La Razon, said the Beijing Winter Games not only bring great athletic results to the world, but have also achieved much in the field of culture and tourism.

Vera looked beyond sporting achievements to the cultural effects of the Games, saying it had “also taught us great lessons, such as the message of peace between countries and the revaluation of some peoples, who had been forgotten.”

“This is the case of Taizicheng, an unknown village often covered in snow in winter, which has now, thanks to the Olympics, regained the glory it had in the past when it was the seat of an Imperial palace 800 years ago,” he said.

“Today, Taizicheng Railway Station is once again in the spotlight of the world as one of the scenes of the competitions, as well as proving to be an ideal place for skiers and snow lovers,” he added.

Vera considers that this also highlights a change in society overall, which has seen people move away from packed cities to rural areas as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What has happened around Beijing 2022 “invites us to do the same efforts in our country. Spain wants to host the Winter Olympics in 2030 and we have to show we are capable of hosting an event of this caliber in all aspects,” he said. (Xinhua)