A few days ago there was a Bing Dwen Dwen made of snow in front of our hotel.
A panda, black-rimmed eyes, little hearts on its paws, the favorite mascot of the Winter Games, it's sold out everywhere.
The corners of his mouth are turned up in a smile.
Animal full and happy he waved at you.
But then what was that?
Black tears ran down Bing Dwen Dwen's cheeks like blurry mascara.
Stefanie Sippel
sports editor.
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Two police officers took snow from the ground.
They tried to cover his tears, over and over again.
But the snow didn't stick.
This Bing Dwen Dwen didn't want to fit into the picture that the Chinese paint: of perfect Winter Games without Corona, of joyful, shared experiences.
Speaking at the IOC press conference, one volunteer said the Games warmed her heart and was an experience she would never forget.
The crying Bing Dwen Dwen stands for the topics that were not discussed openly but exploited, for the tennis player Peng Shuai, who was there but could not speak openly.
It stands for the suppression of the Uyghurs (one of them had started the fire), for the perfect appearance.
He stands for the topics that were carefully smiled away before the start.
The next day, the panda suddenly disappeared.
Because it got too warm?
Or because it just didn't fit in?