Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at the National Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, February 4 (XINHUA)

In 14 years, from the Beijing 2008 Olympics to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, China has achieved tremendous development and changes, and holds an important position in the world in science and technology, culture, commerce, politics, sports and other fields. But back in 2008, China’s economy was still in its infancy in many respects.

Today, great changes have taken place in China’s economic and social landscape. It is noteworthy that international events such as the Olympic Games, the Winter Olympics and the World Cup are variables that show a country’s strength and growth momentum. China’s economy has shifted from a stage of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development. We can see some of these changes by comparing the Beijing 2008 and the Beijing 2022.

Ideologically, the Beijing 2008 is focused more on letting people know about traditional Chinese culture, while the Beijing 2022 is focused on the common spirit and the concept of community with a shared future for mankind. This reflects at the same time the cultural self-confidence and a determined spirit of togetherness. China is open and ready to embrace the world for cooperation, co-development and co-prosperity.

Technologically, the 5G technology, VR, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, etc. are major innovations not only for this Winter Olympics in China, but for the world events in general. At Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, all the transmissions are based on 5G technology, using ultra high-definition 8K technology. Other high-tech applications include the 5G cloud broadcasting, intelligent command and dispatching, 5G+ BeiDou smart vehicle networking, and smart medical care, which is very practical in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. The Beijing 2022 really deserves its appellation of “AI Olympics.”

The Beijing 2022 demonstrates the great leadership and wise decision of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to host the Games while keeping COVID out. The successful hosting of the Winter Olympics in China is a signal that China has overcome the pandemic and returned to normal life. China’s vaccines are also playing an important role in the global fight against COVID-19, as evidenced by the successful opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Let me mention that my county Cameroon just hosted the 33rd African Cup of Nation that gathered 24 African national teams as well as hundreds of thousands of fans and supporters from around the world. We understand the challenges of hosting major competitions in this pandemic context, and therefore we say bravo to China and to the CPC.

It is worth mentioning that our world is going through a geopolitical crisis, fueled by some global powers’ attitudes of protectionism and unilateralism. This has created a negative atmosphere and has shaken the world order. But this did not stop China from growing its international influence, backed by a real development momentum. With their hard work, Chinese people have made tremendous contribution to the world’s overall development, peace and stability.

But unfortunately, not everyone wants to acknowledge this; some critics would go to any lengths to deny the spirit of fair play, mutual understanding, friendship and solidarity brought by this Beijing Winter Olympic Games. The “boycott attempts” are purely “political games” and have nothing to do with Olympic Games. Using sport to express political opinion is simply despicable.

To be honest, supporters of China far outnumber the critics. More than 30 international dignitaries from across the world have expressed their solidarity and support to China by attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022, and I believe that if it wasn’t for the pandemic making travel a little more complicated in some countries, many more high-ranking personalities from Africa, Asia, Europe and Americas would have attended such a big event.

In my view, the most important legacy of the successful hosting of the Beijing 2022 is firstly ideological: the Chinese spirit. The feats of a “dual Olympic city,” an “AI Olympics” and a “green Olympics” have been achieved thanks to the Chinese spirit, a spirit rooted in 5,000 years of ancestral values and wisdom.

Secondly, I would mention the commitment to opening up displayed by China through this Winter Olympics. “One China, One World, One Future for All Mankind” is clearly the message sent. The spirit of the Beijing 2022 binds us to work together to make this world a better place for the entire human race.

(The author is a lecturer, research fellow, secretary general of the Center for African Film & TV, and vice director of the Center for Francophones Studies, Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, China)