Nigeria's flag bearer leads the delegation as they enter the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, at the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, on February 4, 2022.Photo: AFP

Africa has undeniably expressed its support for its biggest bilateral trading partner, China, during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

African leaders including Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania's Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari are unambiguously backing China.

Prior to the Games, President Mwinyi voiced his support for a "successful convening of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games."

He stressed that the eagerly awaited Olympics present an opportunity to unite people from across the continent and beyond. They are a much-needed boost for mankind to move forward faster, higher and stronger in keeping with the Olympic creed.

President Mwinyi's counterpart, President Hassan of Tanzania similarly commended China for hosting the Olympics and had no doubt that China would deliver a dazzling and successful global event.

"As a friendly and brotherly country to Nigeria, President Buhari affirms the support of the Nigerian government and its people to China," according to a statement of Nigeria's State House.

Six athletes from Nigeria, Eritrea, Ghana, Madagascar and Morocco are competing in the alpine skiing and cross-country events in Beijing's Winter Olympic Games. 

Other hopefuls from countries such as Kenya are not participating for reasons including a lack of resources needed to adequate prepare for the competitive event.

Still, many Kenyans joined Chinese living in Kenya to usher in the Chinese New Year at a popular shopping mall a short distance from the capital, Nairobi.

Solid support for the Olympics was similarly expressed by presidents of various national Olympic Committee officials, including Zimbabwe's Olympic Committee president Thabani Gonye, and Mali's National Olympic and Sports Committee president Habib Sissoko.

Uganda's Olympic Committee president Donald Rukare and, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) have vocalized their support for China's key role in Winter Olympics 2022.

In this regard, African countries have put up a united front, decidedly ignoring calls from Washington for a "diplomatic boycott" of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

It is clear that calls for a boycott opposed with increasingly vocal support from across the continent by leaders, sports associations and sports enthusiasts. For Africa, the Olympics are a highlight and a celebration of China as it marks a memorable moment in sports history.

Mali, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa are among the many countries across the continent to have spoken out in support of the Winter Olympics and stressed that the Games serve to bring people together and unite the world.

In this regard, Botsang Tshenyego, president of the Botswana National Olympic Committee, strongly expressed his support for the Olympics, urging others to avoid the polarization of sports.

The overwhelming support comes hot on the heels of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in Dakar, Senegal. 

During the forum, African countries drew a statement that reads in part, "We are committed to promoting the sustained and sound development of the Olympic Movement and oppose the politicization of sports."

Standing in solidarity with China, Africa has not wavered in expressing its support for a country that has stood shoulder to shoulder with a continent that has until recently, struggled to make significant strides towards sustainable development.

As the continent walks step by step with the eastern nation, it has significantly transformed as state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology have gradually improved.

For African leaders, Beijing offers a much-needed platform to foster Africa-China diplomatic ties and deepen cooperation and friendships that transcend traditional bilateral ties.

Sports experts say the event provides youths in Africa with exposure to a sport that is slowly making inroads into Africa.

As a largely tropical region and one of the hottest continents in the world, Africa lacks the climate for winter sports.

Still, many athletes in Africa continue to express a desire to participate in sports like snowboarding, skiing and bobsleigh. Experts say China-Africa relations present an opportunity for the continent to build capacities in winter sports and to learn from China. 

Thus far, China-Africa relations have deepened, resulting in trade between China and Africa reaching an unprecedented high in 2021 of $254 billion. This is an estimated 35 percent increase from 2020, according to the most recent Chinese customs data.

Leveraging on this partnership, sports experts in Africa are confident that the continent is capable of spreading its wings outside of its traditional sports such as marathon and football.

There is no doubt that China has made world Olympic history as the first dual Olympic city, having already hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008. It is this level of excellence and consistency in global sports that Africa hopes to emulate.

The author is a Kenya-based journalist. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn