When the 2022 Winter Olympics kicked off on Friday night in Beijing, Komani Mayentao, an international student at the Beijing International Studies University, strutted onto the glittering stage of the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, together with other foreign students and professors.
Since being selected last year as a performer at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, Mayentao, a 24-year-old student from Mali, has visited the Bird's Nest for rehearsals no matter rain or shine.
"I'm very lucky to participate in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. I really value this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," says Mayentao, whose Chinese name is Zhang Yisheng.
The name was given by his Chinese teacher at the Confucius Institute in Mali. Yi means clothing in Chinese and sheng is a traditional Chinese musical instrument.
Enthralled by Chinese culture and kung fu since childhood, Mayentao took part in Chinese Bridge, a worldwide Chinese proficiency competition for overseas students, and won a scholarship to study in China when he was 18 years old.
After getting a bachelor's degree at the BISU, the young man from West Africa decided to pursue a Master of Business Administration program, also at the university in Beijing.
"It's definitely an honor of life for me to take part in the Beijing Winter Olympic Games," he says, citing the rapid development of Beijing since he arrived in the Chinese capital six years ago.
At an event held on Dec 5, for the application of international volunteers to the Games, the Malian student said, "I'm looking forward to participating as an overseas volunteer.
"Thirteen years ago, Beijing successfully hosted the 2008 Olympic Games with impressive multicultural interactions. Beijing will surely deliver an even more splendid sports event for the world in 2022," he said.
Mayentao, who speaks Chinese fluently, was picked as a performer for the opening ceremony. "Although I did not get to serve as a volunteer, it's a great honor to be able to perform at the opening ceremony. I realized my Winter Olympic dream in Beijing," he says.
Mayentao made friends with performers from other countries when they rehearsed at the National Stadium. Eight international students and lecturers from the BISU, including Mayentao, who came from the Central African Republic, Suriname, South Sudan, Mali, Venezuela and Romania, performed at the spectacular opening ceremony.
Mayentao believes that people with different languages and cultural backgrounds working together highlights exactly the cultural diversity of Beijing, which will be a valued experience for his future life and career.
The BISU is very supportive of Mayentao and other international performers participating in the opening ceremony. Authorities of the university provided them with down coats embroidered with the BISU mascot Xiaoluan-a cartoon bird-scarfs, gloves and face masks.
In 2019, Mayentao served as a volunteer for the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in Beijing. The Malian young man, who has a good command of five foreign languages, did a very good job at the conference. "You can only know of a place when you go there, and you get to know a person only after you spend quality time with them," he says.
Mayentao also took part in the grand celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Tian'anmen Square on Oct 1, 2019. "Seventy years is a milestone for a country. China is becoming strong and prosperous, which is a very inspiring thing."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayentao, like many other international students, chose to stay in Beijing. When he phoned his parents in Mali, he said: "I'm very healthy and safe in China. The BISU takes good care of us. Don't worry!"
The BISU has a specialized canteen and kitchen for the international students, where they can prepare and cook their own food. But Mayentao prefers Chinese cuisine. Dumpling, spicy hot pot and chicken with rice are his favorites. "I love the Chinese dishes," he says with a big smile.
After the Olympic flame was lit at the Bird's Nest, Mayentao said: "I'm so excited. We've been working very hard to perform at the amazing opening ceremony."
The author works with the publicity department of the Beijing International Studies University.
