IOC President Kirsty Coventry speaks during the Press Conference in Milan, Italy on Feb 20, 2026. [Photo/Agencies]
Twenty-five years ago, Beijing won the right to host the Olympic Games. It marked the beginning of an extraordinary Olympic journey for China.
For me, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games became one of the defining moments of my life as an athlete. I will always remember the feeling of those Games: the energy of the city, the pride of the people, the color and creativity of the opening ceremony, and the sense that the whole world had come together in one place.
I also remember two venues in particular. The Water Cube will always be special to me as a swimmer. It was there that I experienced some of the most important moments of my career. The Bird's Nest became one of the defining images of Beijing 2008 — an iconic setting for an opening ceremony that brought Chinese culture and creativity to the world.
When I returned to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, this time as an International Olympic Committee member, I saw those memories in a new light. The Water Cube had become the Ice Cube — the Olympic curling venue. The Bird's Nest once again staged unforgettable Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.
