The Olympic flame was officially forwarded to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games (BOCOG) on October 19 (Monday) at a special ceremony at the historic Panathenaic Stadium in Athens (Greece). Today, October 20, the Olympic flame arrived in China, making Beijing the first city to host the Summer and Winter Olympics.

YU Zaiging, Vice President of BOCOG and the Chinese Olympic Committee, received the flames on behalf of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games from the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos.

The torch design itself is full of dynamism and vitality, with a spiral construction reminiscent of a fluttering ribbon at the spot where the Olympic flame is located. The emblem of Beijing 2022 is located in the middle of the torch, while the winding red line on its body represents the winding Great Wall of China, the ski trails at the Games, and humanity’s tireless search for light, peace, and excellence.

Red and silver, as the primary colors of the torch, are metaphors for ice and fire, and symbolize the introduction of "light and warmth into the world of ice and snow." The choice of torch color, as well as the cloud patterns that cover the handle, are an integral part of the torch element from the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

The olympic flame was carried to the stadium by Olympic silver medalist Evi Moraitidou (she won silver with the Greek women's water polo team in Athens in 2004), and passed the flame to Li Nin (a two-time Olympic silver medalist in freestyle skiing) before the flames were finally received by Greek skier and biathlete Paraskevi Ladopoulou, who lit a golden ceremonial cauldron in the center of the stadium.

Speaking at the ceremony, the vice president of BOCOG said:

As you may remember, it was here at the Panathenaic Stadium 13 years ago that the Olympic flame was first handed over to Beijing. Thanks to the support of the people of the world, China has held the outstanding Summer Olympics. In the past 13 years, China’s efforts to promote the Olympic spirit, Olympic culture, and Olympic knowledge have never stopped. As a symbol of the Olympic spirit, the Olympic flame will travel to the Great Wall of China and other parts of China, bringing with it the light of peace and friendship. Let’s gather in a place of ice and snow, running towards a common, brighter future. We look forward to meeting you in Beijing at the 2022 Winter Olympics. "

The Winter Olympics will be held from February 4 to February 20, 2022. in the capital of China-Beijing. 2,892 athletes from all over the world are expected at the games. After Tokyo 2020, these are the second Olympic Games to be held in a pandemic.