The Olympic Games is a grand event for both sports and culture. Chen Ning, Director of Cultural Activities Department of the Winter Olympic Games Organizing Committee said in an exclusive interview with Xinhuanet that traditional Chinese culture played an important role in cultural activities designed for Beijing Winter Olympic Games. 

Cultural Activities Department of the Winter Olympic Games Organizing Committee is mainly responsible for work in six areas, namely visual image, sports display, ceremonies and award-giving, torch relay, city cultural activities and Winter Olympic cultural activities. Traditional Chinese culture and the unique charm of Beijing as host for two Olympic Games have been important elements. Chen Ning said that there are rich Chinese elements and marks of Chinese culture behind each design. 

Following Beijing's successful hosting of an incredible Summer Olympics in 2008, the Beijing Winter Olympics will make Beijing the first city in the world that has hosted both the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics.

The image of the Beijing Winter Olympics medal is derived from Bi, an ancient Chinese concentric jade, which echoes the medal of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and reflects the cultural heritage of Beijing as host for two Olympic Games.

There are many such similar designs, Chen Ning said. The image of Winter Olympic torch also echoes with that in 2008. The varied pattern on the torch is a combination of the cloud-shaped pattern used in 2008 and snowflakes in this year. This also shows the internal relations between the two Olympic Games and the creativity of Beijing.