Peking University, March 11, 2022: At 8pm on the 4th of February, 2022, the opening ceremony of the 24th Winter Olympic Games in Beijing was held at the National Stadium-the "Bird's Nest". "Yanshan snowflake as big as a mat" attracted the attention of the world. Guests and athletes from all over the world gathered together to participate in the grand event. At the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, 30 international students of Peking University from 26 countries entered the Bird's Nest and watch the opening ceremony. Together the students read the Olympic story composed by a new China, passing on good wishes for the human community to "move together for a shared future".


At night, the Beijing Olympic Tower displayed a unique light and shadow. The five Olympic rings hanging on the top of the tower bore witness to the profound fate between Beijing, the city of dual Olympics, and the Olympic Games. From "One World, One Dream" to "Together for a Shared Future", China has always been a firm practitioner of the Olympic values. Many Peking University students who love Chinese culture had watched the Beijing Olympic Games through various channels in 2008. 14 years later, they were able to witness the Olympic Games again in Beijing. Ripuree Kaakunga Tjitendero, an international student from Namibia, is one of them.
 
Ripuree Kaakunga Tjitendero remembers the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games as a grand event full of motivation and passion. She still recalls that at the time, American swimmer Michael Phelps created a miracle of winning eight gold medals and became the player who won the most gold medals in a single Olympic Game; her favorite Jamaican track and field player Usain Bolt broke the world records one after another in the men's 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, creating a legend on the track and field. At that time, Ripuree did not expect that in 12 years, she would be studying in Beijing, 15,000 kilometers away from her motherland. Neither did she expect that she would have the opportunity to enter the Bird's Nest of China's National Stadium and watch the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Walking Into the Colorful Yanyuan

When she first came to Peking University in 2020, Ripuree fell in love with the beautiful Yanyuan. Peking University provided many opportunities for international students to learn together with Chinese students and carry out cultural exchanges in the community. She especially adored the atmosphere of studying abroad in Peking University. “I have grown a lot in China. Learning about China's rich history and development experience has taught me much about life. I have seen China's rapid development and great achievements, which can be learned and used for reference by all countries in the world. If I have the opportunity, I hope to invite Chinese experts to Namibia for exchange. I think this is very important for the two countries' mutual understanding and development cooperation.”

Regarding her accomplishments in Peking University, Ripuree cheerfully remarked, “During my study period in China, while receiving excellent education, I am also looking for new ways to express my creativity. The experience of studying abroad in China makes me more independent and confident. I can also feel the beauty of Peking University in my daily studies. Sometimes having a cup of coffee along Weiming Lake can fill my heart with joy.”


Green is the Most Beautiful Undertone

While talking about the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Ripuree was full of excitement and joy. She is a girl with a mindful heart. After learning that she had the opportunity to watch the opening ceremony at the Bird's Nest, she immediately consulted some materials of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Ripuree learned that as the only newly-built ice competition venue for the Beijing Winter Olympics, the national speed skating venue the "Ice Ribbon" will become the first speed skating venue in the history of the Winter Olympics to use carbon dioxide as refrigerant. Overlooking from the air, the National Speed Skating Hall is like the crystal track carved by the skate on the ice. The glass curtain wall rotating from low to high along the outer wall is like the fast track left by speed skaters on the ice. Therefore, the "Ice Ribbon" is named. All previous winter Olympic Games used Freon or ammonia refrigerant to make ice. In this Winter Olympic Games, China realized the trans-critical direct cooling of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide for the first time. The carbon emission value of this technology is close to zero, which not only realizes environmental protection, but also greatly improves the energy efficiency of ice making. This made her a "fan" of Professor Zhang Xinrong of Peking University.

“I have been learning about the new technologies applied in the Olympic Games and am very impressed by the research of Professor Zhang Xinrong of Peking University and his team on 'snow and ice making based on the achievements of developing carbon dioxide thermodynamic system'.”Ripuree professionally acclaimed: “I have watched an interview from Professor Zhang Xinrong. Their innovative technology uses carbon dioxide trans-critical direct cooling ice making technology to make the ice surface with small temperature difference and basically the same hardness. It is very conducive to athletes to create good results. It is the most beautiful and smoothest ice surface.”

Ripuree also noted that Professor Zhang Xinrong's team also applied carbon dioxide technology to artificial snow, directly making it closest to natural snow, which is the first idea and attempt in the world. Zero carbon emission, low energy consumption, total heat recovery and no pollution, the new technology of ice and snow making in the Winter Olympics represents the Olympic concept of green, science and technology and environmental protection. It is the most beautiful undertone of the Beijing Winter Olympics. In her words, Ripuree was full of admiration.


Speaking of environmental protection, Ripuree was amazed by the eco-friendly torch design at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games. At the opening ceremony, Ripuree watched the torchbearer take over the last torch, run the last leg of the relay, and put the torch in the middle of the big snowflakes composed of small snowflakes with the names of all countries in the world. Only then did she realize that it was the main torch platform of the Winter Olympic Games. "What a surprise! There is no 'lighting' process or grand flame, but a 'small fire', which is full of warmth and affection, and embodies more the concept of environmental protection."
 
Ripuree acknowledges the torch design. Although the burning fire is the embodiment of humane Olympic spirit, it is not eco-friendly. She learned that in the past, the torch of the Olympic Games consumed about 5000 cubic meters of gas per hour, while the carbon emission of the small torch of this year's Winter Olympic Games is only one fifth of the previous 5000. Ripuree felt that from "fire" to "small fire", the humane Olympic spirit that the Chinese people want to convey has not changed, but has given this little torch more meaning. China has demonstrated its commitment to carbon emission reduction and conveyed the Chinese people's sense of responsibility to the world. Ripuree said: "I'm glad to see China's efforts to reduce carbon emissions. I'm very moved by China's determination and sense of responsibility to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment to the greatest extent. Green is the most beautiful undertone."

Ordinary is the Most Authentic Color

After watching the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, Ripuree made an observation that there were basically no celebrities in the performance of the opening ceremony, and most of the participants were ordinary students and volunteers. Ripuree was deeply touched by this. She felt that in the context of the global epidemic, it is more difficult to host the Winter Olympic Games. The builders, scientific and technological workers, epidemic prevention personnel, volunteers and other countless people who worked and served for the Olympic Games are all ordinary people who make selfless contributions and operated silently. They ensure the success of the Winter Olympic Games with their sense of responsibility and mission, striving to present a wonderful ice and snow sports event for the world. "Director Zhang Yimou showed the real beauty of ordinary Chinese people on the stage of the opening ceremony, which moved me very much." Ripuree said sincerely.


Unity is the Most Beaming Color

At the opening ceremony, 91 officials constructed the snowflakes with the names of various countries into a huge snowflake. The outer edge is the branches and leaves of olives, shining brightly, which forms the final torch platform. In the past, almost all Olympic ignition ceremonies displayed their own national culture alone. The Olympic torch is an innovation and breakthrough. On the historic night at the Bird's Nest, a "Yanshan snowflake is as big as a mat" conveys the concept of "a community of shared future" in a worldwide language.

Ripuree wholly agrees with the concept of a community of shared future in which people all over the world unite to move towards the future displayed at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. "In Namibia, elders often say that 'the world is a home and mankind is its citizen', which is very consistent with the concept of a community with shared future for mankind". She felt that the snowflake torch conveyed the same philosophy: under the impact of the pandemic and the increasingly complex world pattern, human dispersion is as fragile as snowflakes. But condensation can become solid ice. Linking with her own learning profession, Ripuree believes that Covid-19 has made the world more uncertain, confused and anxious. At this time, we need to work together, take responsibility and face the epidemic together. "No matter what color, race or nationality you are, everyone is happy to be here. Like brothers and sisters, we put aside our differences and enjoy the happiness brought by the Olympics together."


Ripuree Kaakunga Tjitendero


Ripuree Kaakunga Tjitendero is a master student at School of International Studies, Peking University. She worked in MTC Namibia, Namibia's largest telecommunications supplier, for more than five years which inspired her to major in communication at Namibia University of Science and Technology. In 2015, she served as the personal secretary to the speaker of the Namibian National Assembly, and successively worked in international organizations such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliamentary Forum for Southern African Development Community (SADC PF). In 2021, Ripuree won PKU Dongfang Scholarships and has successfully enrolled in a master's degree.

Journalist & Writer: Zheng Lehan
Translator: Ding Xianzhui
Designer: Chin Xiao Yun Pauline