Xinhua Daily Telegraph Editorial
Ding Jing
February 8, 2022
As “Bing Dwen Dwen” went viral all of a sudden, the Olympic mascot was quickly sold out online, and people were lining up for hours in front of offline franchise stores to buy the plush toy. Netizens were leaving messages calling for “One Mascot per Family”. To cope with the current situation, some shops even limited sales to each customer. Not only is “Bing Dwen Dwen” insanely popular in China but also it has become a favorite among foreign visitors. A Japanese journalist said that he would throw away his clothes to make room for the mascot in his suitcase. Prince Albert II of Monaco also hoped to bring two mascots back home for his twins.
The Olympic mascot “Bing Dwen Dwen”, combining the figure of a giant panda with a crystal case containing superpower, is a manifestation of the characteristics of winter sports and modern technology. The shape of the head shell is adapted from the helmet worn in winter sports. The bright colors of the halo around its face, inspired by the National Speed Skating Oval also known as “Ice Ribbon”, are a representation of the latest 5G technologies and of the ice and snow tracks at the Games. The heart shape in its left palm represents the host country’s hospitality. The overall image resembles an astronaut, a tribute to embracing new technologies for a future with infinite possibilities.
What accounts for the immense popularity of “Bing Dwen Dwen” is not only its adorable appearance but also the unprecedented fever that the Games bring to the winter sports as well as the technological advances that China has achieved. The super cool shell and the incredible athletic ability of the mascot carry the hope of Chinese people to rejuvenate the country with science and technology and strengthen the people through sports, and represent their wish to work together for a shared future.
While the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics is heating up, people expect that the country will develop as more people are embracing all kinds of sports. Since the opening of the Winter Olympic Games, 17-year-old Su Yiming has won the first medal in Men’s Slopestyle for China. Chinese people’s passion is ignited by witnessing Ren Ziwei winning the champion of Men’s 1000m in Short Track Speed Skating, and Eileen Gu, considered a title contender in Women’s Big Air, successfully entering the finals.
In addition, China’s achievements in science and technology are equally amazing. Chinese people hope that science and technology will become the foundation of national prosperity and that innovation will prove to be the soul of national progress. From food prepared and delivered by robot to remote-controlled smart bed, the Winter Olympic village provides athletes from all over the world with facilities that are technologically savvy. At the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, which showcased “Chinese-style romance”, the latest technology such as super large 8K ultra-high definition ground display system, AI real-time capture technology, naked-eye 3D visual effects, safe utilization and storage of hydrogen fuel, and 5G coverage of the National Stadium, present a spectacular show for the audience, sparking a new round of discussions about “science and technology” and “national power”.
“Bing Dwen Dwen” and “Shuey Rhon Rhon” now becomes an outlet for people’s passion for Winter Olympics. Just as the designer of the mascot said, “There is warmth and softness underneath the ice shell of Bing Dwen Dwen.” In a world that is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century and where Covid-19 is still raging, may the slogan of “working together for a shared future” warm more people who are willing to hear it.
Rewritten by Xu Renping, Fudan University
