POA, APCFA organize event to wish good luck to Beijing Winter Olympics

Lahore: Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) in partnership with All Pakistan-China Friendship Association (APCFA) organized a special award ceremony for winners of the Short Video Competition on the theme of ‘Chatting About China Pakistan Friendship and Good Wishes for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games’.

The event was aimed to celebrate 70 years of the establishment of Pakistan-China Diplomatic relations, a statement issued by the Pakistan Olympic House said.

The Pakistani youth came up with unique ideas and created fabulous videos to felicitate Chinese people for Beijing 2022 and celebrate the friendship of the people of Pakistan and China. The students translated their emotions into videos and have sent their good wishes for the success of the Beijing 2022.

In his keynote address, Nong Rong, Ambassador of China in Pakistan congratulated the winners and all participants of this video competition. The year 2022, he stressed, was auspicious as the two grand events – 70 years of Pakistan China Diplomatic Relations and the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games will further strengthen the iron-clad friendship and promote more Pakistani youth to participate in Olympic Games.

The envoy underlined that China gave great importance to the Winter Olympic Games. “President Xi Jinping has stated that the Beijing Winter Olympic Games will be the first comprehensive sports event ever to be held,” he added.

The Ambassador extended his thanks to President Arif Alvi for the strong support received from Pakistan for this splendid sports event.

The Chinese envoy lauded the preparation of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games as being the safest and green, clean, inclusive and open event in history.

He promised that the games will be delivered by the Chinese government in the safest and secure way during the Covid-19 pandemic. He felicitated all the students who participated in the competition.

Anoop Bhattarai, President Organization of South Asian Regional Friendship and Cooperation with China (OSARFCC) in his remarks commended the students for the videos produced and their wishes to Beijing 2022 and congratulated China for holding this mega event to promote the Olympic Spirit for promoting peace and harmony among nations.

Earlier, Lt. General Syed Arif Hasan (retd), President Pakistan Olympic Association welcomed the students, their teachers and esteemed guests from various sections of societies.

He maintained that Olympism strongly promotes all the forms of the arts and therefore it was included in the Olympics Values Education Program.

He thanked the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and All Pakistan-China Friendship Association for initiating the idea of Short Video Competition.

He contended that Beijing 2022 as a milestone in Olympic History as Beijing will be the only city organizing both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

During the competition 83 short videos were received with participation from 26 schools across Pakistan. In total of 54 winners were selected from two age categories 11-14 and 15-18 with 2 first prize winners, 10 second prize winners and 15 third prize winners in each category as well as two appreciation awards. An excellent organization award to five participating education institutions was also announced. All winners received cash prizes, certificates and other mementos and mascots of Beijing 2022 from the Embassy of China in Pakistan . The students were awarded with recognition certificates and cash awards.

Muhammad Khalid Mahmood, Secretary POA along with key officials of POA welcomed the participants to the Pakistan Olympic House and regretted that due to covid restrictions a bigger event could not be held as planned.

Farwa Zafar, General Secretary All Pakistan China Friendship Association briefed the audience about the event. Chaudhry Muhammad Yaqub, Shaukat Javed, Vice Presidents POA also appreciated the students and teacher for the good job done.

The students and teachers from participating schools across Pakistan, friends from China and South Asian Friendship Associations, and the media also attended the ceremony via zoom online.

The Names of the winners of the competition and their schools are: Maryam Khalid, Areesha Aslam, Aaliya Saman Ali and Sajida Bibi.