Paris 2024: behind the scenes

Olympic spirit

"I was just a kid during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Now, as a volunteer at the Paris Olympics, I've come to realize what an arduous task it must have been to organize such an event," Liu reflected. "The Paris Games faced many challenges, but everyone behind the scenes did their best to make it happen. The result was more than satisfactory, creating new, classic moments in Olympic history."

Liu highlighted that her favorite part of the Olympic motto, "Faster, Higher, Stronger — Together", is the word "together".

"Athletes, volunteers, and representatives from different countries, races, and backgrounds all come together in the Olympic Village, making the Games feel like a huge party for the whole world," said Liu.

Xu echoed Liu's sentiment. "The Olympics allow humanity to pursue self-improvement and breakthroughs," she said.

"I believe the essence of the Olympic spirit is about looking beyond external factors like appearance, ethnicity, or international disputes, and celebrating what humans can achieve with their bodies, striving to reach new heights."

lixinran@i21st.cn