Paintings by Chinese children delight foreign athletes

Special: 2022 Winter Olympics

(ECNS) -- Some foreign athletes have posted pictures of creative paintings drawn by Chinese children on social media platforms, expressing their gratitude and appreciation.

Australian freestyle skier Britt Cox, an Olympian in Zhangjiakou Village, said she received an “incredible” and “heartwarming” painting, at a press conference Monday.

The painting depicts a female skier standing on a mountain holding her skis, a perfect match for Cox. She said it was heartwarming to receive the special gift since one of her values is "is to inspire young people.”

The painting in Cox's backpack is one of 43,000 selected from among 7,500 works by the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Before the competition, the organizing committee collected paintings from teenagers across the country, who took inspiration from the emblem and mascots of the Games, mascots, landmarks in Beijing, sports scenes, and many elements of Chinese history and culture, including Peking Opera, mythological figures, etc.

Some of the little “painters” are skating or skiing learners.

Hou Jiaqi from China’s northeastern Jilin Province is a primary school student and a member of the school’s short track speed skating team. His painting is of four short track speed skaters competing on ice.

His work has been sent to Jamaica's Benjamin Alexander, an Alpine skier, who sent an email to him in gratitude. In the email, Alexander wrote: "Thank you so much for your art. I love it." Alexander invited Hou to watch his race on Feb. 13.