“Give peace a chance”

… this was the appeal I made to the political leaders across the world in my opening speech of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. In my closing speech I expressed the hope that these leaders would be inspired by the “example of solidarity and peace” having been set by the athletes.

1 min
IOC President Thomas Bach 

Just four days later all our hopes for Ukraine were shattered. The horrifying images and reports of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army shocked the world.