(china org) A short film inspired by the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics premiered in Beijing on Oct. 22 and debuted online later that day, aiming to stoke enthusiasm for winter sports.
"A Date With Snow and Ice" was directed by Ding Sheng and stars popular Chinese actor Jackson Yee alongside freestyle skiing athlete Eileen Gu. "It is my great honor to be assigned to this task, and I have a sense of purpose," the director said.
Ding integrated images of fire and snow in the film to symbolize Chinese understanding of winter sports.
Earlier this year, he led his crew to various locations in Xinjiang, Jilin and Inner Mongolia as well as the landmark Great Wall in Beijing to capture grand scenes. More specifically, Altay Prefecture of Xinjiang is thought to be the earliest site for China's winter sports, where Paleolithic ancestors once skied while hunting.
"The hard work our crew had done is no less than that of doing a feature film. We feel that we must reach the best level to fulfill the expectations of all friends who love ice and snow sports," Ding said, adding that many members of the crew suffered cold-related injuries.
The Beijing 2022 Olympic flame arrived from Greece at Beijing's Capital International Airport Oct. 20. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the Games organizers were forced to scale back the traditional torch relay to a much smaller event. The relay will take place across three host areas and involve some 1,200 torchbearers between Feb. 2 and Feb. 4, with the route connecting landmarks, historical sites, and iconic tourist attractions in Beijing and Zhangjiakou.
Chen Ning, director general of the Culture and Ceremonies Department of Beijing 2022, praised Ding for showcasing the beauty of contemporary China and the spirit of its citizenry, while expressing the country's love of winter sports and its commitment to the Olympic ethos, which will solidify the film as a valuable piece of the Winter Olympic legacy.
She also hopes that "A Date With Snow and Ice" will help the Winter Olympics reach the world and touch the hearts of everyone who loves ice and snow sports.
Source: by Zhang Rui China.org.cn, October 26, 2021