Olympics 2022: Dinigeer Yilamujiang thanks "Fatherland" for role as torch bearer

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Dinigeer Yilamujiang (left) with Jiawen Zhao at the opening ceremony

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Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Uyghur cross-country skier Dinigeer Yilamujiang has expressed her gratitude for her role as torch bearer at the opening of the Winter Olympics.

"When I took on the task, I just couldn't believe it," said the 20-year-old, according to Chinese state media.

»Since my fatherland gave me this important task, I had to fulfill it.«

The fact that the Uyghur lit the Olympic flame together with the Nordic combined athlete Zhao Jiawen caused a stir, as China has faced international allegations of oppression of the Muslim minority.

Human rights activists vehemently criticized the election.

From a sporting point of view, the hitherto almost unknown Yilamujiang plays no role.

In an interview with SPIEGEL, Kuerban Haiyuer from the World Uyghur Congress spoke of a "political show" that paints a false picture of the life of the Uyghurs in the north-west region of Xinjiang.

"They show: Look, we leave this honor to a Uyghur athlete, there is no suffering among the Uyghurs."

According to human rights activists, more than a million Uyghurs have been sent to re-education camps.

There are reports of torture, ill-treatment and ideological indoctrination in the camps, including forced labour.

"They are brainwashed, tortured, sterilized and raped there," said the exiled Haiyuer.

Dinigeer Yilamujiang, meanwhile, said with a patriotic attitude that her father, who coaches the cross-country skiing team, and her sister, who works on the team, also attended the opening ceremony.

She hopes that her performance as a torch bearer will inspire children in her home region in the Altai Mountains to take part in winter sports.

Before leaving for Beijing, shepherds rode up with the national flag to bid them farewell.

State media also published photos of it.

The shepherds would have sung »My fatherland and I«.

According to other reports, the rest of the family watched the opening ceremony on TV.

"I thank the nation for entrusting my daughter with such an important task," the mother was quoted as saying.

"I hope my daughter will bring glory to the country."

Dinigeer Yilamujiang finished 43rd in her 15km skiathlon race on Saturday.

ara/dpa