Interview: Lebanese ski coach recalls "spontaneous" pop dance at Beijing Winter Olympics opening

BEIRUT, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Naim Fenianos, a Lebanese alpine ski coach, made his name in China for a pop dance he gave during the athletes' parade in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

As Fenianos' dance video went viral on the Chinese social media, some compared him to Deng Chao, a popular Chinese actor and singer who likes to show interesting dance moves.

The 29-year-old coach, whose nickname is Nino, said he did not want to make a regular entrance during the opening ceremony.

"I thought of the dance three minutes before entering the Bird's Nest ... It was spontaneous," Nino told Xinhua.

"I wanted to express, in my own way, the excitement I felt for taking part in the Olympics," he said.

Nino, whose country is reeling from a series of crises, said he is aware that "the Lebanese do not have the chance to win competitions but they can have fun and enjoy big events without necessarily winning races."

"We are able to offer a good image of our country," he noted.

Nino said he was very happy to learn that he became popular in China after his dance.

"It went viral very fast, I couldn't believe it. It was unreal," Nino said, adding he was happy to be compared to Deng Chao who is a very popular star in China.

Nino, who has been skiing for more than 20 years, tried twice to qualify for the Winter Olympic Games but failed because of injuries.

The young man has been a ski coach for over three years now and could not be any happier about his first experience in the biggest and most prestigious sports event in the world.

"My experience in the Olympics was super smooth, almost perfect. I felt at home," he told Xinhua.

Nino admires China's perfect organization of the Olympic Games and appreciates the volunteers who were very helpful and friendly.

"The COVID-19 measures were absolutely perfect. We felt very safe and protected," he noted.

Nino said he hopes the Lebanese authorities will offer more support for ski players in the future so that they can achieve more in future Olympics.

"We need a budget to train for around eight to nine months every year in different parts of the world," he said, adding support is needed three to four years ahead of a big event for a Lebanese athlete to be able to stand out in races.

Nino said his unique experiences and the friendly and warm atmosphere he felt in China encouraged him to revisit the country soon to learn more about its culture and people.

"I definitely want to visit (China) when COVID-19 slows down a little," he said.