The Chinese Winter Olympic athletes declared their ambitions at an oath-taking ceremony here on Friday on the 1,000-day countdown to the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games.
After patriotic songs were sung by 1,200 athletes and officials, Gou Zhongwen, the director of the State General Administration of Sports, made a key-note morale-boosting speech.
Gou set up five goals for the national teams in the 2019-20 season -- to gear up event-oriented physical training, to promote specific training methods for every technique, to push for technological programs, to steel up fighting spirits for athletes, and to carry out zero-tolerance on doping.
"We are facing tough challenges. Despite breakthroughs in the previous season, there are still a long way for us to go," Gou said. "To train hard for 1,000 days and to bring out your best for a successful Winter Olympic Games."
The ceremony reached the climax as all the athletes stood up and took oath towards the national flag, which was chaired by director of the Winter Sports Management Center Ni Huizhong, together with other participants concerned.
During the ceremony, both individuals and teams were praised for their achievement or breakthrough in the past 2018-19 season. The figure skating team was named Sharp Blazers on Ice, while the freestyle skiing aerials, bobsleigh and snowboarding halfpipe teams were recognized as Front Skiers on Snow.
"We are truly thankful for the recognition and support," pairs skating world champion Sui Wenjing, who is training in the United States, said in a video filmed with her partner Han Cong.
"Our coach keeps telling us not to rest on laurels, but take them as motives to reach for higher level," Sui said. "To gear up for Beijing 2022, we will spare no efforts and beat every difficulty en route towards the glorious moments for our country and for ourselves."
PyeongChang Olympic short track speed skating champion Wu Dajing also echoed his ambition.
"Winning honor for my motherland is my biggest dream at Beijing 2022," Wu said. "I will not think of previous achievement, but take every competition from now on as the Olympic Games."
Fifty-four coaches and staff members from different sports associations were also awarded for their contribution.
