图：艺术家于 2021 年 11 月 24 日在北京国家游泳中心（也称为水立方）举行的北京 2022年冬季残疾人奥林匹克运动会 100 天倒计时活动中表演。
11月26日，2022年北京冬奥会开幕式倒计时70天之际，陈立大使在芬兰媒体《赫尔辛基时报》发表署名文章《70年奥运情缘，70天后北京再续》，回顾中芬两国自1952年结下的奥运情缘。文章中英文全文如下：
70年奥运情缘，70天后北京再续
今天距离2022年北京冬奥会开幕还有70天，而北京冬奥会距离中华人民共和国首次参加奥运赛事，已经过去了70年。70年的奥运情缘，即将在70天后相约北京，再续新篇。
70年前的1952年奥运会正是在芬兰赫尔辛基举行。这是二战后首届奥运会，既是芬兰首次举办，也是新中国首次参加，中芬两国从此在奥运体育领域结下了不解情缘。芬兰当时是最早承认新中国并同中国建交的西方国家之一，作为东道主邀请中国参会，体现出了开阔的国际视野和胸怀。中国在时间相对仓促的情况下果断做出了参赛决定，中国代表团和五星红旗首次在奥运赛场亮相，至今仍是中国奥运史和中芬关系史上的一段佳话。
最近几年，“70”似乎成为了中芬关系中的一个幸运数字，铭记着一个个重要的时间节点，不断带来新的好消息。2019年是中华人民共和国成立70周年，也是“中芬冬季运动年”。这是习近平主席对芬兰进行国事访问期间两国元首达成的共识，也是中国与外国首次举办以体育交流为主题的国家年。“中芬冬季运动年”全年精彩不断，年初芬兰总统尼尼斯托对华进行国事访问并出席开幕式，年内双方举办了60多项各类活动，签署20多项合作协议。芬兰作为主宾国参加2019国际冬季运动（北京）博览会。冬奥合作成为中芬合作新的亮点和增长点。
2020年是中芬建交70周年，虽然突如其来的新冠疫情不可避免地对各项议程造成了干扰，但两国和两国人民相互支持，守望相助，克服不利条件推进各领域交流与合作。疫情以来，中芬奥运体育合作的脚步没有放缓，仍然稳步向前。几个月前，中国国家跳台滑雪队来芬比赛、训练，积极备战北京冬奥会。就在前不久，中国越野滑雪运动员在疫情后重返沃卡蒂训练中心训练。希望在70天后，他们的付出都会获得回报。
前一段时间，我们已经共同见证了冬奥火种顺利抵京、北京冬奥会百天倒计时、冬奥会和冬残奥会奖牌和制服揭开神秘面纱等重要时刻。北京冬奥组委发布了第一版《防疫手册》，为运动员、随队官员和所有其他利益攸关方提供全面防疫指导。二十国集团领导人《罗马峰会宣言》中也表达了对北京冬奥会和冬残奥会的期待，认为这是来自世界各国的运动员竞技的重要机会，是人类韧性的象征。
70年前新中国代表团首次登上奥运赛场，五星红旗首次在奥运舞台升起。70年后，北京将成为首个先后举办夏季和冬季奥运会的城市。相信在70天后，我们将迎来一届简约、安全、精彩的奥运盛会。让我们一起向未来，向着更高、更快、更强、更团结的奥林匹克精神共同前行。北京期待着芬兰和世界奥运健儿的到来。
70 Days to Go for 70-Year-Long Olympic Ties
In 70 days, Beijing will host 2022 Winter Olympic Games. It will be 70 years then since the People’s Republic of China competed in Olympics for the first time. The 70 years of Olympic ties will soon be renewed in Beijing 70 days later.
70 years ago, it was in Helsinki that the Olympic flame was ignited. It was the first Olympics after the World War II, the first time for Finland as the host and the first time for China as a player, making China and Finland connected to each other in Olympics and sports for the first time. Back at that time, Finland was one of the first Western countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with China. Finland showcased a truly global vision to invite China to the Olympics；China, for its part, made a quick decision to go despite of time pressure and other difficulties. In the end, the debut of the Chinese delegation with the Five-Starred Red Flag became a widely told story in China’s Olympic history and China-Finland relations.
In recent years, 70 seems to be a lucky number for China-Finland relations, marking good years and news. The year 2019 was the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the China-Finland year of winter sports. The latter, agreed by the two heads of state during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Finland, was the first ever theme year featuring sports between China and other countries. Splendid moments were nonstop throughout the whole year. Starting with the state visit of President Sauli Niinistö to China and the opening ceremony in Beijing, there were over 60 programs held and more than 20 agreements reached in the year. Additionally, Finland participated as Guest of Honor in World Winter Sports (Beijing) EXPO 2019. Winter sports has become a highlight and impetus in bilateral cooperation.
The year 2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Finland. Although unexpected COVID-19 pandemic has affected the scheduled agenda, the two countries and peoples still managed to carry forward exchanges and cooperation, with support and caring for each other. Particularly, our cooperation in Olympics and sports progressed steadily even in such hard times. This summer, China national ski jumping team came to Finland for training and competitions in preparation for Beijing Olympics. Just days ago, China cross-country skiing athletes returned to Vuokatti training center after the outbreak of the pandemic. I hope that 70 days later, all their hard work will pay off.
Recently, we have witnessed big moments of the arrival of the Olympic flame in Beijing, the 100-day countdown to Beijing 2022, and the release of the medals and uniforms of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The first version of Beijing 2022 Playbooks have been published, as the basis of the game plan to ensure that all participants stay safe and healthy. In the G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration, G20 leaders said they “look ahead to Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics 2022, as opportunities for competition for athletes from around the world, which serves as a symbol of humanity’s resilience”.
In a time span of 70 years, China made its debut in Olympics and has Beijing the first ever city to host both summer and winter Olympics. It is believed that in 70 days, a simple, safe and wonderful Olympic Games will be delivered to the world. Let’s carry forward the Olympic spirit of “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” for a Shared Future. Beijing is ready for Olympic athletes from Finland and all over the world.
