The Olympic message of peace can be spread to Asia

George N. Tzogopoulos, "The Olympic message of peace can be spread to Asia," china.org.cn

image from

Excerpt:

As the XXXI Olympiad is being hosted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, future Games come slowly to the forefront. Coincidentally, three of them will take place in Asia, namely the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. There is no question that the role of all three countries for the preservation of peace in Asia is of utmost significance in a period of high tensions. ...

The rise of China is a sine qua non parameter in every discussion about future peace in Asia. If the country's position is underestimated by its neighbors, the risk of unnecessary tensions will grow. The development of China is expected to continue in the coming years, certainly until 2022, and therefore should not be ignored not only by South Korea and Japan but also by the international community. On these grounds, the three countries can, maybe with the initiative of China which has the recent experience of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and also enjoys close relations with Greece where Games were born, embark on relevant public diplomacy campaigns. The common goal will be to make a difference and spread the Olympic spirit of peace to the whole Continent.