BURNING BRIGHT

正Beijing Winter Olympics preparations are well underway The Olympic flame was ignited on October 18, in Ancient Olympia, Greece, marking a milestone for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. Present at the flame lighting ceremony was Yu Zaiqing, a special representative of Beijing 2022, who also witnessed years ago such a ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.     

From Hunting Grounds To Olympic Slopes

Skiing in China has an ancient past and a promising future The Winter Olympics will turn 100 in 2024 and over the past 98 years, skiing has been an integral part of the Olympic Winter Games. Among the 109 events in the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, more than half relate to skiing.     

HEAT IN A WHITE WORLD

Host cities are in the final sprint in their preparations for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Zheng Fang has been involved in the design of Olympic and Paralympic Games venues twice—the first time for Beijing 2008,and the second for Beijing 2022.     

An Olympic Sprint

正Preparations for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing haveentered the final stageAs the Olympic Summer Games concluded in Tokyo on August 8,it was less than six months before the Olympic Winter Games would take to the slopes in China's capital Beijing and co-host city Zhangjiakou.Preparations for the games,scheduled for February 4-20,2022,have now entered a sprint to the finish line.From July to August,the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG) dispatched its staff to the Tokyo Olympics in a bid to observe and learn from their hosting experiences.     

Grow With the Snow

Chen Chen used to be a veterinarian in Yanqing,a suburban district in northwest Beijing,the city that is going to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 together with Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province.When China won the bid for the Winter Games in 2015,Chen's enthusiasm for winter sports was ignited.He developed an interest in skiing and bought the entire paraphernalia,including a helmet and a ski suit.     

THE PRELUDE TO THE PAGEANT

Torch relay ignites enthusiasm for the grandest of athletic events On February 2, the second day of the Chinese New Year, the flame of the Beijing 2022 Games arrived at Beijing Winter Olympic Park in Shijingshan District, Beijing.     

Leaving a New Legacy

With the Olympic flame dancing to the drums of the Chinese Year of the Tiger,the Beijing 2022 Games—the first-ever Winter Olympics held in China and its second Olympics after hosting the 2008 Summer Games—concluded on February 20,to be followed by the Paralympic Winter Games from March 4 to 13.     

Friends,Not Allies

Roughly 170 official representatives from nearly 70 countries and international organizations attended the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on February 4.Among them were heads of state and government,leaders of international organizations as well as members of royal families.     

On the Scene

My wife and I attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, in Beijing on February 4.The first thing that struck me on arrival was how spectacular the Olympic Park was looking.     

Snow Fever

With the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games one year away, the construction of competition venues has come to an end. On January 18, President Xi Jinping, while inspecting preparations for the Games, called for advancing the work against difficulties. China is pulling out all the stops to ensure the Games will be a success.     

THE THRILL OF THE CHASE

China’s first Tibetan Olympian looks to the future When China’s snowboard cross athlete Yongchin Lhamo secured a ticket to the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 in mid-January, two firsts occurred: She became the first Winter Olympian from Tibet Autonomous Region as well as the first Chinese athlete to take part in the most electrifying event the Games have to offer.     

Diplomatic Delivery

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with dignitaries from around the world who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, in Beijing on February 5.     

A Star Is Born

How Olympic mascot Bing Dwen Dwen came into being—and went viral Before the Spring Festival,on February 1 this year,nobody could have imagined Bing Dwen Dwen,the roly-poly panda mascot of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022,would become a breakout star.The chubby lucky charm wearing a transparent shell made its public debut in September 2019.     

A DEBUT OF OLYMPIC VENUES

With just a year to go before the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, preparations have entered a fast track. The construction of all competition venues is complete, and ice making and other preparatory work has started. Over 100 events in seven winter sports categories will be held in three competition zones from February 4 to 10。     

Breaking Boundaries and Setting Records

The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 officially launched on February 4,with Beijing hosting this year’s edition.With a total of 109 medal events across 15 disciplines,athletes from around the world gathered to compete in a mix of sports including bobsleigh,curling,skating,skiing and more.Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,it proved an inspiring event,bringing hope to the many watching this year’s Games unfold as nations came together in solidarity.     

Of Skis and Skates

China’s winter sports economy becomes swish biz At least once a week,Xiao Lei takes his 7-year-old twins to ice hockey training in Haidian District in Beijing,host of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games."My boys have a lot of energy so this sport suits them," the father told Beijing Review,adding the kids have been playing for half a year.     

Snow Bunny Nation

Winter Olympics ignite young enthusiasm for snow sportsWith the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022,China's fervor for ice and snow activities has soared to new heights.Teenagers make up the majority of China's current 346 million winter sports participants,guaranteeing demand will continue for decades to come.     

Well Prepared

正Before the 100-day countdown, Beijing has completed construction of all facilities and finalized all preparatory work for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. Against the backdrop of the global fight against COVID-19, winter sports participants from all over the world are gearing up to usher in their moment of athletic glory as scheduled.     

GROOMED FOR OLYMPIC SUCCESS

Intensive training is paying off for volunteersAs a teenager, Temelidi Yulia watched the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 on TV at home in Russia. Now, a sophomore student at Tsinghua University’s School of Social Sciences in Beijing, her wish to be involved in the Winter Olympics has come true.     

BEYOND THE OLYMPICS

正The Beijing 2022 Games tap into the potential of regional development Well before the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, which are just about three months away, Feng Yinong, a girl from Zhangjiakou of Hebei Province, has already enjoyed its benefits.