President of the Lausanne 2020 Organizing Committee Virginie Faivre told Xinhua in a recent interview that she believes Beijing 2022 can build on the experience of the ongoing Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne to help deliver a "wonderful Games" in two years' time.
"As we are a traditional winter sports country, we have this experience. I am sure you'll be able to bring it back and organize a wonderful Games," Faivre said.
Competition is in full swing after the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games opened on Jan.9, and Faivre sees much potential from China and spoke highly of Chinese athletes.
"We're really happy to to have them around. They're observing and will mostly be competing in the next Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. So it is really interesting to see the progress and also the development of winter sports in China," she said.
"We've seen this development and we're really happy to be able to accompany and support Beijing on your way to the Games."
Faivre, 37, is a former world champion in freestyle skiing. She also shared her own experience. "I put on skis when I was two years old, like many kids here in Switzerland. So, I think it's just a lifestyle. We're surrounded by these mountains. People here love the winter and snow. They follow the the Swiss team around the world. We have some great athletes. I think it helps also to create strong support from the population."
"I think that the next generation really matters. I hope the new talents of tomorrow will be able to do sports professionally or just for leisure. But I think that's a way to engage the population around the sport and winter sport and the Olympics," she added.
Although Faivre hasn't been to China before, she says she is following the development of winter sports in the country. "I know there's the alpine test event coming really soon. I am really looking forward to see I have heard the the daniel is really steep. It's gonna be a really technical and so it is really exciting."
Faivre also has suggestions for the preparations ahead of Beijing 2022. "The games must adapt to the region and not the opposite. And for us it was really important to leave some legacy behind."
