Winter Olympics 2022 Gets Off to a Flying Start
The Winter Olympics 2022 got off to a flying start this week in Beijing as the world’s best snow and ice athletes went to work to win some of the medals up for grabs whilst their nations watch on. The epic competition is known for its share of fireworks and excitement, and this year’s installment looks to be no different. We’ve had a fair share of drama, controversy, and excitement so far, and the world’s sporting focus is beginning to hone in on the competition.
There is a substantial reliance on artificial snow at this year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing. Surrounding by controversy and COVID-19 difficulties, we take a look at the main sports and what to look out for on the slopes and ice rinks. ©Elf-Moondance/Pixabay
The fact that the Winter Olympics are taking place in Beijing, the capital of China this year, makes it the first city to have hosted both the winter and summer editions of the Olympic Games. We know there is not the same level of appetite for this version of the games, but let’s quickly run through the most important aspects of the tournament, touching on the main athletes to look out for, the interesting venues that have been built to host the competition, and the broader context concerning things that are unique for this year’s games amidst the backdrop of COVID-19.
So which events can you expect to see in the Winter Olympics 2022. There are a number of exciting events taking place at this year’s games, and as usual, there are the two main categories for sports played at the Winter Olympics 2022 in Beijing, with 15 sports in total to be played. The Ice events cover a range of both indoor and outdoor sports. Ice hockey, figure skating, curling and speed skating all take place within purpose-built indoor arenas. The outdoor ice sports include bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge – all taking place on specially constructed outdoor ice runs. On the alpine side of the sporting options, there is a mixture of skiing and snowboarding programs.
Another section of the snow events that you can expect to see at this year’s edition of the Winter Olympics is the traditional Nordic events. These include the ski jump, the gruelling cross-country skiing, and the biathlon – an infamous winter classic that combines rifle shooting with an endurance race. There is also another twist on the traditional sports, the Nordic combined is a new discipline where cross-country skiers have to perform a ski jump in their route.
Controversy and the Impact of COVID-19 at the Winter Olympics
The biggest controversy around the Winter Olympics 2022 in Beijing remains the appalling treatment and persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang province. The government internment camps became public knowledge over the last few years, and reports of atrocities routinely carried out by government troops and security forces have caused a major international backlash. As such, several countries around the world have refused to send their officials or dignitaries to the Olympics this year and will boycott.
Another key element of the brewing controversy around this year’s games is the impact that China continues to have on the environment. It is a country that has historically pursued economic growth at any cost when it comes to environmental impact. With the competition being held in a place that doesn’t have naturally falling snow, the organizers have resorted to spraying huge quantities of artificial snow over the mountains, which inevitably comes with a high-energy cost.
Then there is the impact that COVID-19 is having on the games. As we all know the pandemic has meant increased attention on testing and quarantines for athletes affected. The games have kept a strict bubble around the officials and athletes, with regular testing throughout the events and a refusal to let an athlete compete until at least 2 negative tests have been provided. Moreover, there will be no spectators at the majority of the events, local groups will be invited to attend just a few of the events, a very similar scenario to what we had back in the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2021.
