“This is AB inter-field medical room. An Azerbaijani journalist has got hypothermia. He speaks only Russian and Azerbaijani. We need an interpreter.”

[Photo/Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games]

Upon receiving the call on the morning of February 6, Lin Zhixin, a senior student from the School of Russian Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University and a volunteer interpreter in the Press Conference Room, set out to help him.

At the medical station, Lin greeted the journalist who was still lying on the sickbed, “Здравствуйте!” (“Hello!”). Upon hearing the familiar language, he sat up with excitement to shake hands with her. The two then had a pleasant conversation. 

As it turned out, the journalist accidentally wet his shoes and socks while walking downhill. This, combined with exposure to cold weather, led to hypothermia. After being warmed up, he was out of danger. The staff dried his shoes and socks with a hair drier, put heat packs in his shoes, and offered a pair of medical shoe covers as makeshift socks. At the same time, Lin interpreted the doctor’s suggestions about referral and blood tests for him. 

[Photo/Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games]

Talking about his feelings for the Beijing Winter Olympics, the journalist said that he was overwhelmed by the excellence and hospitality. Before he left, he took a photo of the medical staff and Lin who lent him a helping hand, and said he would return to work immediately. “I must work even harder to cover such spectacular events for more people back home to see.”

Translated by Chang Fangdi, Wang Yixuan and Li Xincheng and proofread by Ding Ning from Beijing Foreign Studies University