Chinese President Xi Jinping will officiate at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics next Friday, and host diplomatic activities for visiting foreign dignitaries over the weekend.
On 4 February 2022, almost 14 years on from the iconic spectacles of the 2008 summer ceremonies, Beijing’s National Stadium (also known as the Bird’s Nest) will once again stage an Olympic Opening Ceremony; this time, for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
Whether you are an aspiring athlete or an avid supporter of the Olympics, here are the events to look forward to during the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Perfect for your binge-watching inside your ready for occupancy condo or with your family.
Pregames
A special system has been defined to keep games participants and the people of China safe by reducing unnecessary interactions, while still allowing athletes to perform the day-to-day activities essential to their role during the Games. This closed-loop system allows athletes to enter China without undergoing a compulsory 21-day quarantine. Within the closed loop, all Games participants will be subject to daily health monitoring and testing and will be allowed to move between permitted destinations (including Games venues, accommodation facilities, etc)* in dedicated Games transport. This is to ensure there is no contact with the general public or anyone outside of the closed-loop.
The Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony represents the official start of the Olympic Games. Through music, song, dance, and fireworks, the ceremonies invite people to discover the culture of the country in which the Games are taking place — this year, Beijing China is the host country for the games.
Beijing’s organizing committee assured a “simple, safe and splendid” staging of the Winter Games during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the opening ceremony will reflect that theme.
Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Yimou, who directed the spectacular launch of the 2008 Summer Olympics, returns for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony. He promised a “different and unique” opening this time around in an interview with state-run news outlet Xinhua: “China’s status in the world, the image of the Chinese and the rise of our national status—everything is different now.”
With an expected runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes and some 3,000 performers joining, the ceremony has been scaled down from 2008’s extravaganza due to cold weather and the pandemic. It will still be held at the National Stadium, dubbed the “Bird’s Nest,” and Zhang promises an “innovative” cauldron-lighting that will echo China’s thrust towards environmental protection.
The Olympic Sports During the Winter Games
Some 2,900 athletes from over 90 countries are expected to attend February’s Winter Games in China, close to figures of participating athletes in Sochi, Russia in 2014 and Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018.
Here is the sports list to look forward to:
Alpine Skiing
It is sometimes referred to as downhill skiing and is one of the signature competitions at the Winter Olympics. Competitors regularly reach speeds of up to 152km/h (95mph), all while navigating a winding course full of sharp turns and soaring jumps. There are 11 events in the Alpine competition at the Games, with 33 medals up for grabs.
Biathlon
Made its debut at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California, and has been part of the Olympic programme ever since, with new events added to the competition over the years. There are 33 medals available in biathlon, with 11 events in total - five each for men and women, plus one mixed team event.
Bobsleigh
Having featured at every Winter Olympics (save one - Squaw Valley 1960), the bobsleigh is an iconic part of the Games. It is one of the three sliding sports on the programme at Beijing 2022, alongside the skeleton and luge. There are 12 medals available in the bobsleigh competition at the Games, with two events each for men and women, including the brand new women's mono bob event.
Cross Country Skiing
It has been contested at the Winter Olympic Games since the first Winter Games in 1924 in Chamonix, France. The women's events were first contested at the 1952 Winter Olympics.
Curling
It is one of the more unique sports at the Winter Olympics - one that involves stones, brooms, and a 'slider' and 'gripper' shoe. And while curling may be a 'slow' sport, it's still full of skill, suspense, and excitement! Beijing 2022 will have three events in the curling competition, with nine medals up for grabs.
Figure Skating
It is one of the most popular sports at the Winter Olympics; one could argue it's synonymous with the Games themselves, seeing as it's the oldest sport on the Winter programme. Figure skating was first contested at the 1908 London Summer Games and again in 1920 in Antwerp before being permanently transferred to the program of the Winter Olympic Games, first held in 1924 in Chamonix, France. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics there are five events in the figure skating competition - men's individual, women's individual, pairs, ice dancing, and the team event.
Freestyle Skiing
After first featuring as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Calgary Games, freestyle skiing was introduced to the Winter Olympic programme in 1992, with new events - including ski cross, halfpipe, and slope-style - added to the competition format over the years. There are 13 events in freestyle skiing at Beijing 2022, including two new events: men’s and women’s freestyle skiing Big Air and mixed team freestyle skiing aerials.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey made its Olympic debut at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, but was permanently moved to the Winter Olympic programme in 1924, and has featured at every Winter Games since. There are only two events in the ice hockey competition in Beijing, but it remains one of the most popular sports at the Winter Olympics.
Luge
It is one of the three sliding sports on the programme at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, alongside the skeleton and bobsleigh. It is the fastest of the three, with athletes racing at speeds averaging 120-145 km/h. There are 12 medals available in the luge competition at the Games.
Nordic Combined
Nordic combined is a unique sport, in so far as it's made up of two separate sports: ski jumping and cross-country skiing. The competition has been contested at the Winter Olympics ever since the inaugural Winter Games in 1924, though no women's events have ever been added to the programme at the Games.
Short Track Speed Skating
Short track speed skating is one of the three skating disciplines at the Winter Olympics, alongside figure skating and speed skating. But unlike in speed skating, competitors in short track race against one another - not the clock. As a result, short-track races are full of strategy, bravery, skill, and high-intensity excitement. The competition will see nine events in total, including the mixed team relay, which will be making its Olympic debut.
Skeleton
It is one of the three sliding sports on the programme at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, alongside the luge and bobsleigh. With only six medals up for grabs, the skeleton has the joint-fewest events at the Winter Games - which means competition for a podium finish will be fierce.
Ski Jumping
Ski jumping has been a key fixture of the Winter Olympics ever since it made its debut at the inaugural Winter Games at Chamonix 1924. The competition has given us some iconic Olympic moments over the years. Assa Miller will officially represent the Philippines in the category of Slalom and Giant Slalom. Miller is one of only two athletes representing the Philippines at the previous 2018 Winter Olympics, the other being Michael Christian Martinez. He was the flag bearer for his country in the opening ceremony.
Snowboarding
It is one of the newer events on the Winter Olympic programme, having been first included at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. But despite having only featured at six editions of the Games, snowboarding has become one of the most popular and exciting sports at the Winter Olympics. There are 11 events in the snowboard competition at Beijing 2022, including mixed team snowboard cross, which will be making its Winter Olympic debut after featuring at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
Speed Skating
Speed skating is one of the three skating disciplines at the Winter Olympics, alongside figure skating and short track speed skating. With 14 events in total, speed skating is the largest sport (in terms of events) in Beijing 2022.
After two weeks of competition, Beijing 2022 will come to an end with the Closing Ceremony (which will also take place at the Bird’s Nest), at which point the Olympic flag will be passed on to the Mayors of the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina-D’Ampezzo, the hosts of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
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