2022 Beijing Winter Olympics: Answers to Some Big Questions

This 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing With all sorts of questions – about international politics, public health and yes, even sports – they are just around the corner.

Here’s what we know so far.

When are the Beijing Olympics?

The opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday, February 4, but there will be some preliminary events in the days before. The closing ceremony is on Sunday, February 20. In all, there will be 19 days of competition opposite 15 sports.

This year’s Paralympic Games, also based in Beijing, are scheduled to be held from March 4-13.

Is there a possibility that the Games will be delayed or even canceled due to the pandemic?

Anything is possible, but the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic organizers in Beijing did their best to emphasize that the Games would continue as planned. When asked in early December if he could envision a situation where the Games would have to be postponed, he said: Juan Antonio Samaranch, a senior Olympic official was blind. “The answer is no,” he said. “In the world of Covid, you need to be flexible and adapt quickly to changing conditions. We have that in Beijing.”

The protocols will be similar to those in the protocol. Tokyo Olympics last summer, but more strictly. The organizers create what they call it. “closed loop system” – also known as a bubble in which thousands of athletes, coaches, team officials, Olympic personnel, contractors, volunteers and journalists will be imprisoned for the duration of the Games. The balloon will include competition venues, hotels and other accommodation for athletes, media facilities and a transportation network. No one else enters; no one is going out.

Everyone at the Olympics will need to get vaccinated. (Medical exemptions exist, but anyone who gets an exemption will have to quarantine for 21 days, which is impractical before competing.) And once there, everyone will be tested every day.

Weren’t the Summer Olympics held in Beijing in 2008? Why is China hosting other Games?

Initially, many countries raised their hand to host the 2022 Games. But over time, one by one, them fell out Countries like Norway, Sweden, Poland, Ukraine, Switzerland, Germany — often cite the high cost of hosting the Olympics and the lack of public support at home.

In the end, only China and Kazakhstan were left to bid. Beijing won by four votes. The host selection process was considered such a disaster that the IOC shelved it. Host cities are now selected through a closed process.

Will any country boycott the Games?

China’s track record on human rights Abuse of Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region of the country and suppression of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kongactivists around the world call on countries and sponsors to boycott Beijing Games.

The calls intensified after she was deleted from social life in November. Peng Shuai, a Chinese tennis player and three-time Olympian after accusing a former senior government official of sexual harassment.

But any country’s outright boycott of the Beijing Olympics – that is, its refusal to send its athletes to the competition – seems far-fetched. Instead, several countries have made a statement, including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada. “diplomatic boycott” This means that government officials will not attend any ceremonies or events.

“We will not add to the fanfare of the Games,” said Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary.

What if an athlete organizes a protest about human rights or something else during the Olympics?

“This is a hypothetical question,” said Mark Adams, an IOC spokesman, when asked about this question in early December, pointing out that athletes can express their personal views during the Games and in interviews on social media.

IOC loosened its rules around protests and political demonstrations before the Tokyo Olympics last summer, it allowed athletes to make symbolic gestures (for example, raising their fists or kneeling) in the arenas before competitions. (Protesting is still not allowed at medal ceremonies.)

However, we will see what happens if an athlete openly criticizes the Chinese government, for example, during the Games. “I think we should wait for concrete examples,” Adams said.

Will fans be allowed to attend events?

Most likely yes, but only in a limited capacity. While fans were barred from entering venues in Tokyo last summer, organizers hope to allow at least some audience members from China to attend events in Beijing. Chinese authorities have set strict rules to try to limit the spread of the virus, among them: audience will be allowed to clap but not shout.

Foreign spectators will not be allowed to enter the country.

Will NHL players be there?

No. This is a reversal of plans announced in September that would allow the stars to head to Beijing as the league shuts down for three weeks.

But the Omicron variant of the coronavirus comes with growing concerns about the league and player union. withdrawn from games and could use the time in February to make up for delayed NHL games.

The men’s Olympic men’s hockey tournament will now most likely feature minor league players and players from other organizations.

How can I watch the Olympics?

As with every Olympics in this century, NBC will broadcast the Games in the United States. Coverage can also be found on several company-owned cable channels, NBCOlympics.com, and the company’s streaming service, Peacock.

Eurosport will run the Games in Europe, often in partnership with national broadcasters such as the BBC.

TSN, RDS and CBC will show the Games in Canada and Seven Network in Australia.

A program of Olympic events here.

What is the time difference with Beijing?

Beijing is 13 hours ahead of East time (You can check your timezone here).

That means many major events will be in tough times for Americans: On February 17, women’s figure skating ends at 9 a.m. in New York and 6 a.m. in Los Angeles, and the men’s hockey final in Beijing on February 20. It starts after 23:00. February 19 in New York.

The opening ceremony will most likely take place in Beijing, during prime time morning in the United States.

Are there any new events?

There are seven additions to the 2022 Olympics schedule. It can be the most challenging among them monobobe, a women’s solo luge event.

These are other events making their debut at the Games:

• Freestyle skiing: Mixed team antennas

• Freestyle skiing: men big air

• Freestyle skiing: big mood of women

• Short track Speed ​​Skating: Mixed team relay

• Ski jump: Mixed team event

• Snowboarding: Mixed team snowboard cross.

What are all the sports in the Winter Olympics?

There are fewer disciplines than the Summer Olympics. The Winter Games include alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsled, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, Nordic combo, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboarding and speed skating.

Here’s more about all of them.

How much is an Olympic medal worth?

There is no prize money from the International Olympic Committee for the winners. However, many national federations paying medal winners.

Some of the bonuses are significant: the $1 million (about $740,000) gold medal in Singapore’s local currency for the gold medal is the largest known prize. Some are more modest: a US medalist receives $37,500 for gold, $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze. Other bonuses such as those for medalists from England, New Zealand and Norway are not available.

Many athletes later sold their medals to collectors, some citing financial difficulties, while others wanted to raise money for charity. Old medal prices at auction highly variable.

Who are the Beijing 2022 mascots?

After a global call for ideas that attracted more than 5,800 entries, the Games’ organizers introduced Bing Dwen Dwen, a cute panda wearing an ice suit. Shuey Rhon Rhon, an anthropomorphic lantern, is the mascot of the Beijing Paralympics.

(Perhaps they will have a greater presence than the mascots of last year’s Tokyo Games. action missing.)

What do the Olympic rings mean?

This five rings, blue, yellow, black, green and red, dated 1912 and designed by Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Games. The colors were chosen so that every flag in the world had at least one matching color.

The reason for having five rings is unclear: they may represent five continents or the five Olympic Games staged at the time they were conceived. There is no particular meaning to any individual ring.

Where will the next Olympics be held?

The next Summer Olympics will be in Paris in 2024. The 2026 Winter Games will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The Summer Games will then head to Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane, Australia, in 2032. The host of the 2030 Winter Games will be chosen in 2023.

field blind, Victor Mather and James Wagner contributing reporting.