From winning its first Olympic gold medal in 1984 to hosting the groundbreaking 2008 and 2022 Games, China's sports evolution reads like a blockbuster underdog story. Now, IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. reveals the behind-the-scenes playbook in an exclusive interview with CGTN.
From Zero to Hero 🚀
Samaranch Jr., whose father oversaw China's re-entry into the Olympic movement in 1979, calls Beijing's dual Summer/Winter Games hosting status "a masterclass in sporting ambition". The numbers speak loud: Chinese athletes brought home a record 40+ golds at Paris 2024 – their best overseas performance ever.
More Than Medals 🏟️
The interview highlights how China leveraged mega-events to boost youth sports participation and urban development. "They didn't just build stadiums – they built ecosystems," Samaranch Jr. notes, praising initiatives like the 300 million winter sports participants target after Beijing 2022.
Legacy in Motion 🌐
With Paris 2024 closing ceremonies still fresh, all eyes are on China's next move. Will we see esports in future Games? More green-tech venues? One thing's clear: as Samaranch Jr. puts it, "This is just the opening chapter."
