The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics opening function will happen on Feb. 4 in a world that has changed drastically since the last time the Chinese capital held the Olympic Games.
The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics denoted China's “coming out” as a worldwide superpower. 33% of the world checked out the $100 million events. Exactly 15,000 performers took part in a production that displayed the best of Chinese history and culture. An expected 91,000 individuals, including U.S. President George W. Shrubbery and other realm leaders, went to the event, which Steven Spielberg had named the “grandest spectacle of the new millennium.”
Interestingly, the Beijing 2022 Games will be the second Olympics to occur under severe COVID-19 Epidemic Prevention Measures as the worldwide pandemic enters its third year. Foreign fans are prohibited, as are practically all local spectators. Furthermore, international pressures loom over the Beijing Winter Olympics: The U.S. and some allies announced a diplomatic boycott amid criticism of China's common freedoms record, and competitors are being warned not to stand up while in the country.
Yet, China pledged it will arrange a historic opening ceremony nonetheless, including a cauldron lighting that is “extraordinary in the more than 100-year history of the Olympic Games,” with athletes from the nation over 1.4 billion people.
Here's Everything You Want to Know About Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
Time and Location of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
The Opening Ceremony for the 2022 Beijing Olympics will happen at the National Stadium. The venue also held the Opening Ceremony for the Summer Olympics 14 years ago in an astonishing display.
While the opposition began on Wednesday, the opening ceremony of Beijing 2022 will occur on Friday, from 8 pm (midnight GMT). Beijing's National Stadium – also called the Bird's Nest – will have the opening ceremony.
Alongside the Opening Ceremony, the 80,000-capacity venue will likewise be the site of the Closing Ceremony on Feb. 20.
Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Epidemic Prevention Measures
Coordinators of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 are expecting arena limits of somewhere around 30% despite China's authorization of tight guidelines to contain the spread of the COVID-19 infection.
Tickets for the winter sports extravaganza starting on February 4 have not been offered to the nearby populace. However, instead, coordinators are disseminating them to “designated” gatherings.
They had effectively said in September there would be no worldwide observers at the Games while those getting tickets will be expected to undertake severe COVID-19 counteraction measures before, during and after the Games.
The Olympics, to be held in the Chinese capital and adjoining Hebei territory, will happen in a “closed-loop” that will keep competitors and different Games workforce isolated from the overall population. Members are showing up on special charter planes and are tested daily during their visit.
Around 24 new COVID-19 cases were identified among Games-related staff on January 31, bringing the absolute for the beyond five days to 143 cases.
How to Watch the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?
Coverage of the opening ceremony on Friday, February fourth, starting at 6:30 AM ET/3:30 AM PT. The event is being streamed live on NBC and Peacock.
If you miss it, the initial function will be accessible on-request on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, and the NBC Sports application, however, you will require a link login for the latter options.
What Are the Competition Items and Themes?
Themes will revolve around Beijing 2022's trademark “together for a common future” and the International Olympic Committee's refreshed proverb “faster, higher, stronger – together”.
Chief Zhang Yimou, who drove Beijing 2008's opening and closing ceremonies, has said the current year's event will feature harmony and a “splendid future” after COVID-19.
He said the Olympic fire would be ignited in an “extraordinary” way, while Iannis Exajous, the head of Olympic telecommunications, said the feature would meet hopes set by Beijing in 2008.
“It's similarly great, similarly moving however unique and it reflects our times,” he said.
The harmony message comes as the Winter Olympics starts amid worries over China's common freedoms record and heightening pressures in Ukraine.
Australia will join the United States, Great Britain, Canada and different countries in a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is relied upon to go to a show of unity with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Following are the Sports that are Part of the Winter Olympics
- Nordic combined
- Short track speed skating
- Skeleton
- Bobsleigh
- Cross-country skiing
- Curling
- Figure skating
- Freestyle skiing
- Ice hockey
- Alpine skiing
- Biathlon
- Luge
- Ski jumping
- Snowboard
- Speed skating
Australia and The Parade of Nations
The Australian Olympic Committee has reported Laura Peel and Brendan Kenny as the country's flagbearers for the parade of nations.
Freestyle skier Laura Peel, 32, is the prevailing aerials titleholder, while Brendan Kerry, 27, is our first professional skater to receive the honor.
Australia will be the last to enter the stadium under the request set by the Chinese alphabet.
Greece will enter first, as is custom, while Italy, as host of the next Winter Olympics in 2026, will follow Australia before China enters last.