Beijing Olympics: Opening ceremony set to kick off 2022 Winter Games
Global News
The 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing are set to kick of Friday with an opening ceremony that organizers promise to be a great "spectacle."
The 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing are set to kick off Friday with an opening ceremony that organizers promise will be a great “spectacle.”
That’s despite a shortened runtime and smaller number of participants due to both colder weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. There will also be fewer people in the stands and in the parade of nations thanks to both COVID-19 and a diplomatic boycott by several Western nations — including Canada.
Here’s what to expect from the opening celebration, which kicks off at 7 a.m. Eastern time (8 p.m. local time).
The last time China hosted the Olympics, the opening ceremony to the 2008 Summer Games lasted for over four hours, with over 15,000 participants including a massive sea of drummers and capped with a majestic fireworks display.
This year’s ceremony will be very different. Participants have been slashed to just 4,000 to limit the spread of COVID-19, and the show will clock in at about two hours due to the colder February weather.
The festivities will still take place at the Beijing National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest — which also hosted the opening and closing ceremonies in 2008 — and will feature dancers, singers and a fireworks display like previous ceremonies.
The opening ceremony will also see the Olympic torch lit, officially signalling the start of the Games.
The traditional parade of nations will also be impacted by COVID-19, with many athletes staying away due to both Beijing’s strict protocols and not wanting to risk catching the virus ahead of competition.
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