Italian student Helena speaks to Xinhua about her experience of volunteering for Beijing 2022. (Xinhua/Luo Xin)
Being a volunteer for the opening ceremony of Beijing 2022, Italian student Helena says she feels proud of her role and has gained a better understanding of Chinese culture along the way.
BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- As the Beijing Olympic Winter Games enters its 18-day countdown, Helena, an Italian student studying at Tsinghua University's Arts and Design Academy, says she feels increasingly excited to play her role in the opening ceremony of the sporting extravaganza.
Helena, whose mother is Chinese, has been fully prepared for nearly three months since she was chosen as a volunteer for the opening ceremony of Beijing 2022 on February 4.
"I was selected after being recommended by my teachers," Helena said. "This is my first time volunteering for such a large-scale event. I'll serve as a volunteer in the performance group. We often rehearse for the best presentation at the opening ceremony. I think it gives me a better understanding of Chinese aesthetics."
At the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Helena was still young and didn't know much about Chinese culture.
"More and more people love Chinese culture," she said. "I believe that the Beijing Winter Olympics, which is full of Chinese cultural elements, will be admired by people from all over the world."
Helena and other students from Tsinghua University pose for a photo after a rehearsal. (Photo courtesy of Tsinghua University/Xinhua)
Moreover, Helena has gained a greater understanding and appreciation of winter sports.
"Because I grew up in Guangzhou, in southern China, I seldom saw snow when I was young. Tsinghua has organized some ice skating activities for us, and we have slowly discovered the fun in it and we love it," she said.
Like many people, Helena deeply felt the changes brought about by the preparations for the Winter Olympics. In China, more than 300 million people have participating in winter sports since Beijing, together with Zhangjiakou, won the bid in 2015 to host the 2022 Winter Games.
"In recent years, China's ice and snow sports have gradually become popular, among young people in particular. Nowadays, you can often see Chinese people skiing or skating," Helena said.
"I am looking forward to the opening ceremony, and believe we can achieve what we expect," she noted. ■
