Peking University, February 15, 2022: The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics has officially kicked off and will carry on for two more weeks. In hope of contributing to this historic event, Peking University (PKU) international student volunteers have been dispatched to the Olympic venues, serving as opening ceremony performers and assisting at the various competition venues. Here we talk to PKU's international student volunteers who have spent months preparing for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics!


PKU Student Volunteer Profile

Sapargeldi Amangeldiyev, a 24-year-old from Turkmenistan, is a doctoral student studying Energy and Resource Engineering at College of Engineering, Peking University. He is one of the PKU international student volunteers at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, having served as a performer for the opening ceremony held on February 4, 2022.

Beginning of a new journey

Sapargeldi has always enjoyed engaging in both small and large events. He views every opportunity to participate as a chance to broaden his horizons and learn something new. Moreover, being able to meet people from different backgrounds helps him understand the world better.


The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics caught his attention when he started his degree in 2020. His supervisor, Professor Zhang Xinrong, a renowned PKU scholar and the brains behind the integration of high-quality dynamic artificial snowmaking and snow storage for this Olympics, was conducting his research and took Sapargeldi under his wing. Soon Sapargeldi received a recommendation from his supervisor to volunteer for the prestigious event. Sapargeldi shares that this was a "wish come true".

Sapargeldi went through an interview process to qualify as a suitable volunteer for the games. When he was notified of his acceptance, he was in Xinjiang participating in the "Peking University Knowledge and Action Plan" as a response to President Xi's letter reply to PKU international students, encouraging them to travel more and see the real China.


As a student who is interested in the technical, scientific, and innovative aspects of the Olympics, Sapargeldi was very excited about this opportunity. He also felt honored to be a volunteer representing Peking University and his country, Turkmenistan.


Preparation in progress

Training for this Winter Olympics kicked off as early as from October 2020. Training sessions often lasted for long hours and required heavy commitment from every volunteer. "We had to make sure our posture, movement and expressions were correct and synchronized with other performers on stage," Sapargeldi mentioned, adding that more practice and persistence was the key to perfecting their performance.


It was no secret that training was tiring and especially challenging for a student volunteer who had to juggle both academics and practice. "Sometimes I would return to my room at midnight after practice," Sapargeldi shared. The cold Beijing winter made it even tougher. Often, he would return to his room past midnight and immediately start work on his research and assignments. Sapargeldi would go to bed only to wake up in a few hours to head to practice again.

Sapargeldi also believes that communication is essential and straightforward in China, allowing him to liberally discuss his situation and condition with his supervisors. However, he mentioned that he took this experience as an opportunity to exercise his body and will.

“ The cold cannot erode my determination, and the honor and happiness brought by participating in the Winter Olympics!” He believes that the key to managing time depends on self-control and that always thinking ahead and planning well keeps one better organized.


Sapargeldi further recalls a memory that pleasantly surprised him. He never considered singing as entertainment until he sang together with fellow volunteers during practice. Moreover, he also enjoyed the moments between performance practice when he would play different games with his fellow volunteer friends which contributed to team bonding. This bonding deepened their overall team spirit during the performance, which was a lesson about teamwork he learned well. This also made Sapargeldi realize that volunteering was an opportunity to relax and improve his abilities in various aspects through activities besides research.


Moments like these have been enlightening and precious for Sapargeldi while he balanced his academic and social life. He adds that as a Pekinger, it is very important to have a good spirit "because you are representing your university on this international platform". He believes that "regardless of how early you go to practice or how late you return, a hardworking and a positive attitude is a must". Having gone through this process, Sapargeldi appreciates every volunteer who has participated in this event and has managed their time skillfully.


Reflections and rumiations for the future

On February 4, during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, after 4 months of training and countless 10-hour practice sessions, 76 youth representatives including Sapargeldi, fellow Pekingers and other volunteers took to the stage and marched across the Bird’s Nest in 100 seconds of perfect synchronicity, conveying the message of the slogan "Together for a Shared Future".
 
Looking back, the most important quality that Sapargeldi has learned is patience. Having to practice and put in hard work while managing his time (including that spent talking to his family in Turkmenistan) requires a lot of patience and commitment while maintaining a good attitude. Hence, "patience is key".


Furthermore, regarding his focus areas - the energy industry, geothermal energy extraction and energy station planning, Sapargeldi aims to contribute toward peak carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. Hence, participating in the 2022 Winter Olympics, which is known for aiming to maintain carbon neutrality during the games, is symbolic for his studies in China.


Sapargeldi explains that one of his biggest gains from volunteering is the honor of witnessing such a historic moment. Moreover, being able to add this stint to his profile also builds on his life experiences. In all, he feels very lucky to be one of thousands to receive the opportunity to perform for the opening ceremony.
 
Sapargeldi is also grateful for the friendships and bonds forged during this process. Although he finds it regrettable that his country will not participate in this Olympics, he still takes pride in being the only PKU doctoral student from Turkmenistan and the sole representative of his country to stand on this global stage.

Rapid-fire questions

Q1 How would you describe this experience in one word/phrase?

New challenges (both in terms of science and technology, and performance)

Q2 What is the best part about volunteering at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics?

Honored (for being selected to perform at the Beijing Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony)

Q3 What is your favorite winter sport?

Ice hockey and skating!

Journalist & Writer: Aneka Rebecca Rajbhandari
Editor: Li Wanqi, Amanda Hu
Producer: Amanda Hu
Designer: Chin Xiao Yun Pauline