“Both alarming and encouraging” for Albert of Monaco
A member of the IOC since 1985, Prince Albert of Monaco, who has participated in bobsleigh in five editions of the Winter Olympics, judges “both worrying and encouraging» that Beijing becomes the first city to organize Summer and Winter Games, fearing that only «the big countries“usable”treat yourself to the Olympics“. A few days before the opening of the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing (4-20 Feb), the Monegasque sovereign returns, in an interview with AFP, to his relationship with the Olympic Games, with the memory of his first descent in 1988 in Calgary and its placeas a leader for a minute“. “It is both disturbing and encouraging. Encouraging because China has promised to hold the Games taking into account all the recommendations of the 2020 and 2020+5 agenda, especially in terms of the environment, heritage and cost control. This is why many speakers from 2008 (from the Summer Games, editor’s note) will be used this year. You’re going to tell me that’s just a showcase, but I really believe, from the conversations I’ve been able to have in China over the past few years, that the Chinese government wants to move towards more sustainability and take more and more plus strengths vis-à-vis the environment and renewable energies. This wind farm on the alpine site 180 kilometers from Beijing is an example of good intentions. It is also worrying because it is also only the big countries that can afford the Games, and Beijing absolutely wanted to be the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics. They have undoubtedly done much more than what was asked for, but for them it is also a question of prestige and better visibility on the international level. The question is to know what is the limit, where gigantism begins and where it stops, and how to better control it.»