Eighteen years ago, Beijing hosted the Olympic Games for the first time. That edition was made unforgettable by Michael Phelps's dominant performance in the Water Cube, Usain Bolt's record-breaking runs in the Bird's Nest, and Roger Federer's ecstatic doubles victory with Stan Wawrinka. These 2008 Games also stand as a benchmark for the Olympic Movement. Kirsty Coventry explains at length why in a letter published on the IOC website.
"Creating lasting profits"
The Zimbabwean, who was present in Beijing as an athlete, emphasizes the notion of legacy. What matters is what the Games make possible afterward. Do more young people turn to sport? Do more communities become involved? Can athletes train and compete in better conditions? Is a city better prepared for the future? These are the questions that should guide every host of the Olympic Games from day one, so that the Games bring more to local communities while leaving a smaller environmental footprint. That's what sustainable Games are all about. It all starts with responsible choices about resources—venues, transport, and energy—but the ambition goes much further: creating lasting benefits. Beijing shows what that can look like. " she insists.
Beyond the infrastructure, the 2008 Olympics have " These investments in transportation, public spaces, and other infrastructure have contributed to accelerating the city's transformation, benefiting residents to this day. They have also sparked a genuine enthusiasm for sports, giving new impetus to a broader sports culture in China – a culture where more and more people can move, play, and engage in physical activity. "A sharp increase in sports participation has been recorded in several disciplines, particularly in tennis (more than 25 million players today). Olympic educational programs have also reached some 400 million young people in schools."
« The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics took this legacy even further. Five venues inherited from 2008 were reused, all Olympic venues operated on renewable energy, and low-carbon technologies were deployed. "Coventry continued. More than 350 million Chinese were exposed to winter sports during this event." Together, these examples demonstrate the potential of an Olympic legacy that extends beyond the event itself: greater opportunities, increased participation, and a more prominent role for sport in people's daily lives. Beijing's Olympic journey—from the awarding of the Games 25 years ago, through the 2008 Games, to the 2022 Winter Games—illustrates the value of looking beyond the event itself. »
