China News Agency, Beijing, December 25th: How does sports ignite the torch of human unity?

　　Author Su Jingxin

　　In today's world, global issues such as climate change and food crisis are emerging one after another. Although countries are trying to cope with the challenges through cooperation, they are still hindered by factors such as geography and race at the practical level.

How to overcome barriers and differences has become an urgent problem for the world.

In 2022, the successful holding of international sports events such as the Beijing Winter Olympics and the Qatar World Cup has provided the world with good opportunities for communication and dialogue, and once again ignited the torch of human unity.

On December 19, local time, in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, a large number of people celebrated outdoors for the team's victory in the World Cup.

On the same day, the Argentine government announced a national holiday on December 20 to celebrate winning the World Cup in Qatar.

Communication: Enhancing Understanding and Friendship

　　As a form of international communication, sports communication is one of the important bridges for countries to enhance mutual understanding and friendship.

The common passion of human society for sports provides a good opportunity for international exchanges.

　　At the just-concluded World Cup in Qatar, the Arab countries used "football" to increase communication and left a deep impression on the world.

Affected by political and other factors, there have been some discordant notes within the Arab countries for a long time.

However, in this World Cup, the leaders of many Arab countries have strengthened communication through "football diplomacy", and ordinary Arab people have also become closer because of football.

Arab fans gathered in the Gaza Strip after Morocco advanced to the semi-finals, calling the historic result a victory for "all Arab countries".

This sense of identity and pride has undoubtedly enhanced the cohesion of Arab countries and injected positive energy into regional peace and stability.

　　In addition, the United States and Iran, the "old enemies" in the political arena, also used football to start a dialogue at this World Cup, briefly realizing "turning hostility into friendship".

The United States "Albuquerque Daily" published an article saying that sports events such as the World Cup allow the world to gather peacefully and leave negative emotions behind. The contest between the United States and Iran has brought a glimmer of hope to this possibility.

　　The downplaying of political factors in sports events has provided countries with a peaceful space for dialogue and provided prerequisites for resolving conflicts and differences.

Looking back on the past, there are many examples of using sports exchanges to ease tensions between countries.

In the future, sports, as an important platform for cross-cultural communication, will continue to create good opportunities for the world to achieve diversity.

Closing ceremony of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Unity: Passing the Torch of Peace

　　Since ancient times, the Olympic Movement has carried the human pursuit of peace, unity and progress.

The Beijing Winter Olympics held in February this year was the first Winter Olympics after the Olympic motto was added to the "more solidarity". Athletes from all over the world perfectly interpreted the connotation of the motto with practical actions.

They compete fairly on the field and encourage each other off the field.

Sports has become a common language of communication, and people have better achieved tolerance and understanding on the premise of mutual respect.

　　There is no smoke and hostility in the competition in the Olympic arena.

As UN Secretary-General Guterres said when he met IOC President Bach in Beijing in February, the Olympic Games brought all countries together here, showing that peace is possible and unity is possible, "We can prove that Compete loyally, but also get along nicely," and that's what the world needs.

　　Pieces of small snowflakes form big snowflakes, and the main torch "Snowflake Terrace" of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which is composed of the names of all participating delegations, reflects China's ardent expectation for "world harmony, one family under heaven".

　　At present, the world has not yet emerged from the haze of the new crown epidemic, and regional disputes and conflicts are frequent. Human beings need unity more than ever before.

Building a better world through sport is one of the key visions embedded in the Olympic Movement.

While sport cannot permanently end war, the Olympic flame of peace can still bring hope.

On February 2, the torch relay for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics kicked off in Beijing Olympic Forest Park.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Hou Yu

Cooperation: Boosting Confidence for Globalization

　　Sports has always been an important part of the process of globalization. Even today, when trade protectionism is escalating and the new crown epidemic hinders international exchanges, sports can also closely connect all mankind with its unique charm.

　　Large-scale international sports events such as the Olympic Games and the World Cup are themselves the result of globalization. From the cooperative construction of sports venues to the cross-border exchanges of athletes and coaches, the sports world has never been a closed field.

　　People can see a multi-national coaching team at the Beijing Winter Olympics, and "Made in China" at the World Cup in Qatar.

Globalization has undoubtedly promoted the prosperity and development of modern sports, and sports has boosted confidence in globalization.

International sports events provide cultural and social diversity to the world, and show mankind an interconnected world.

　　Looking back at 2022, sports have once again proved that the world is a whole and the destiny of mankind is closely linked.

Sports exchanges can become an important link to eliminate misunderstandings, release the goodwill of multilateral cooperation, and ease and improve international relations. This is also the spiritual force that sports contribute to international cooperation in the post-epidemic era.

(use up)