Scholars and experts from the National Academy of Governance, Centre for Classical Civilization at Renmin University of China, Beijing Sport University, and Beijing Language and Culture University pose for a group photo on January 1 at the Spiritual Dialogue between Chinese and Ancient Greek Civilizations in Beijing. Photo: Xu Hailin/Global Times

As the calendar turns its first page of 2022, it reminds the world that it is officially entering the Winter Olympic time, with just about a month ahead of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Scholars and officials from China and Greece stressed the importance of unity on Saturday as the Beijing Winter Games are an important occasion for reviving the Olympic spirit.

At the Spiritual Dialogue between Chinese and Ancient Greek Civilizations, themed "Civilization, Peace and Friendship," on Saturday morning, scholars and experts from the National Academy of Governance, Centre for Classical Civilization at Renmin University of China, Beijing Sport University (BSU), and Beijing Language and Culture University gathered in Beijing to discuss the long-lasting Olympic spirit and its modern values. 

In her preface to the The Olympic Manifesto - The Beautiful Olympic Cultural Scroll ΙΙΙ to be published this year by the Civilization magazine, which was mentioned at the opening of the event, the Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said, "Today, the world is experiencing unprecedented challenges and crises that can only be tackled through concerted action and international cooperation."

"It is therefore extremely important, now more than ever, to draw inspiration from the Olympic Spirit, which could guide us like a polar star through current tough circumstances and could show us the way to work out, together, solutions for existing problems," she wrote.

The organization of the Beijing Winter Games, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and China, provides the chance to renew the cultural and historic ties between the two countries, and it is also an opportunity to further strengthen the bilateral ties in the fields of culture and sports, the Greek President said. 

Echoing Sakellaropoulou, Party secretary of BSU Cao Weidong reiterated in his opening remarks of the event the importance of in-depth dialogue and communication between China and Greece, which are both ancient civilizations, in order to further uphold and promote the Olympic spirit as well as the Chinese sporting spirit. 

"Exchanges and harmonious coexistence of sport culture between the East and the West have been elements that jointly constitute our beautiful life," Cao said.

As certain Western forces are creating a "China versus the rest of the world" illusion by forcing countries to use the Winter Olympic Games to isolate China, it is nice to see such a forum resonate with the vital Olympic spirit, according to experts.

Euthymios Athanasiadis, press and communication counselor at the Greek Embassy in China, gives a speech via video link on January 1 at the Spiritual Dialogue between Chinese and Ancient Greek Civilizations, themed "Civilization, Peace and Friendship," in Beijing. Photo: Xu Hailin/Global Times

Beijing Winter Olympic Games remind us the long-lasting Olympic spirit, which doesn't mean to defeat others to keep an upper hand but lies in self-improvement with an aim to transcend human limits, Euthymios Athanasiadis, press and communication counselor at the Greek Embassy in China, told the event. 

"We must understand the Olympic motto, 'Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together'… without unity, anything else is meaningless," he emphasized.