Zbigniew Brodka, Polish speed skater

Zbigniew Brodka, Olympic speed skating champion from Sochi 2014, confirmed early in October that he had resumed his career to take part in the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. The return to China "would be sentimental," he said.

"I wanted to fight for participation in a fourth Winter Olympics. So I came back," Brodka explained. "In 2003, it was in Beijing that I competed in my first world junior championship. So it would bookend my entire career."

Manuela Di Centa, Italian skier

Former Winter Olympic gold medalist Manuela di Centa believes that the most important thing about the Winter Olympic Games to be held in Beijing in February 2022 is that the athletes will be able to compete.

"A few months ago in Tokyo, we saw how the most important thing won," she commented.

"The most important thing was the athletes. They had the possibility to dream, to win medals, to compete, to give their best in the Olympic Games and if possible to win a medal and it is the same for Beijing," she said.