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Beijing Olympics: Polish president arrives for opening ceremony

04.02.2022 12:15
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda on Friday arrived in Beijing, where he was set to attend the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
Polish President Andrzej Duda arrives in Beijing on Friday for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
Polish President Andrzej Duda arrives in Beijing on Friday for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.KPRP/Jakub Szymczuk

The Polish head of state’s stay in the Chinese capital will extend over the weekend, his office announced. 

On Sunday, Duda will be hosted by Chinese leader Xi Jinping before meeting with the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, officials said. 

The president will also attend Olympic events, including the women’s short-track speed skating competition at Beijing’s Capital Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

On Sunday, Duda will watch on as ski jumpers compete for medals in the normal-hill event in Taizicheng. 

On his way to China, the Polish president on Thursday stopped in Tbilisi to discuss the situation around Ukraine with his Georgian counterpart Salome Zaourabichvili, Poland's PAP news agency reported.

Poland's Maliszewska ruled out of short-track event by COVID-19?

Meanwhile, Polish short-track speed skater Natalia Maliszewska, one of the country’s medal hopes for Beijing 2022, appeared to have been ruled out of Saturday's 500m event after another positive coronavirus test, according to a tweet by the Polish Olympic Committee.

Natalia Maliszewska Natalia Maliszewska. Photo: PAP/Paweł Skraba 

The news was a blow to Poland’s medal chances as the 26-year-old is a former European champion and multiple World Cup 500m competition winner.

Officials said Maliszewska still stood a chance of being fit for the 1000m event, which is scheduled for February 9.

In better news for Team Poland, long-track speed skater Magdalena Czyszczoń, who has been self-isolating since Sunday, “has returned a negative test and will soon regain her freedom,” the Polish Olympic Committee tweeted.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP