Prince Feisal bin Al Hussein, President of the Jordan Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), recently attended the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, to support Jordan’s alpine skier Sharif Zawaideh in the men’s slalom event.
In an exclusive interview with CGTN Sports Scene’s Greg Laffradi, Prince Feisal discussed the future of the Olympic movement, addressing challenges such as climate change and the rise of esports.
Having visited China multiple times, Prince Feisal expressed his admiration for the country’s enthusiasm for sports. He highlighted China’s success in engaging over 300 million people in winter sports, calling it a remarkable achievement.
Prince Feisal addressed concerns about climate change impacting the future of winter sports. Referencing discussions within the IOC about the potential reduction in countries able to host the Winter Olympics due to climate change, he emphasized the urgency of the issue.
“Climate change is a reality we must confront,” he stated. “We need to consider shifting and expanding the dates of the Olympic Games so that more countries have the opportunity to host them.”
An avid video gamer himself, Prince Feisal also discussed the potential of esports within the Olympic framework. He believes that including esports could attract new audiences to the Olympics. While acknowledging that it’s too early to predict whether esports will become medal events, he remained open to the possibility.
“Esports is growing rapidly and resonates with younger generations,” he said. “We should explore its integration into the Olympic movement to keep the Games relevant and engaging.”
Prince Feisal’s insights reflect a forward-thinking approach within the IOC, aiming to address global challenges while embracing new opportunities to inspire athletes and fans worldwide.
