US Olympic delegation expresses gratitude to hosts

Officials from the delegation of the United States to the Beijing Winter Olympic Games expressed their gratitude to Games organizers ahead of their opening on Friday.

"We are very grateful to the Beijing organizing committee as we know how difficult it is to organize Games of this sort," said Susanne Lyons, chair of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

"It's extraordinary to be here," Lyons said, adding she is confident about the athletes' health at the Games.

"We have all the confidence in the world that we have the tools in place to keep people healthy and safe and allow them to strive for their dreams," she said.

The United States has sent 222 athletes to the Beijing Winter Games, as announced last month.

The roster of 222 athletes, including 115 men and 107 women, is the second-largest US contingent ever at the Olympic Winter Games, behind the 228-member team at Pyeong Chang 2018 and equaling the delegation to the Sochi 2014 team.

It features 92 returning Olympians, including four five-time Olympians. They are Shaun White in halfpipe snowboarding, Lindsey Jacobell is in snowboard cross, Katie Uhlaender in skeleton and John Shuster in curling. At the same time, eight members of the team will compete at their fourth Olympic Winter Games.

According to the US committee, the youngest member of the team is Alysa Liu, who was born on Aug 8, 2005, and will be only 16 years and 6 months old when she competes in figure skating. The oldest member is Nick Baumgartner, competing in his fourth Olympic Winter Games in snowboarding, who turned 40 on Dec 17.

Rick Adams, chef de mission of the US team, said there are no medal predictions at this time but considered the delegation a "very strong team".

"We've got a very nice blend of Olympic veterans and a lot of newcomers. So we are excited to see these athletes later in the next couple of weeks," he said.

As chief of the delegation, Adams said he has talked with some of his athletes who had been in Beijing for a few days and has received positive feedback.

"I've had an opportunity to speak with some athletes and their experiences to date have been tremendous," he said. "The care which has been taken around the most important thing, the health and safety of the athletes and the entire delegation, has been very impressive. The venues have been very impressive."