https://www.scmp.com/rss/511694/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com China have emerged as a new Winter Paralympics powerhouse at their own Beijing Games, topping the medals table in a stunning success backed by huge investment and aided by the absence of Russian athletes. The hosts finished proudly top of the table on Sunday with 18 golds and 61 medals in all – a remarkable rise given that they only made their Winter Paralympics debut in 2002 and it was not until Pyeongchang, four years ago, that they won their first medal, a gold in wheelchair curling. “The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3170297/winter-paralympics-stunning-success-makes-china-games-powerhouse-tops?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3170297/winter-paralympics-stunning-success-makes-china-games-powerhouse-tops?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Mar 2022 09:30:24 +0000 The Winter Paralympics officially open in Beijing on Friday evening, and like last month’s Olympics the build up has been turbulent. Covid-19 restrictions and a growing war in Ukraine have cast a shadow over the event, but athletes now have their chance to compete, and organisers are hoping the success of the Winter Games flows into the Paralympics. The opening ceremony at the Bird’s Nest Stadium will be attended by dignitaries including Chinese President Xi Jinping. The first of 78 gold medals... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169218/winter-paralympics-all-you-need-know-about-beijing-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169218/winter-paralympics-all-you-need-know-about-beijing-games?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Mar 2022 06:30:27 +0000 This story has been made freely available to our readers as part of our Olympics coverage. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. With the final medals handed out, the last winners lauded and losers consoled, attention turned to the closing ceremony at Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium on Sunday evening. By any measure the Winter Olympics have been a resounding success for the host nation, both on and off the ice. China’s athletes have enjoyed more success than at any Games... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167707/winter-olympics-counting-down-beijing-2022-closing-ceremony?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167707/winter-olympics-counting-down-beijing-2022-closing-ceremony?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Feb 2022 09:59:05 +0000 So that it’s then, just like that the Winter Olympics is over for another four years, and what a journey it has been. Beijing made history as being the first city to host both the summer and winter versions, China enjoyed its most successful Games ever, and in Eileen Gu and Su Yiming it had the faces of the Olympics. And then there were the likes of Kamila Valieva and Zhu Yi, two figure skaters who will be remembered for vastly different reasons, but who are both part of the story of the 2022... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167710/winter-olympics-top-10-moments-beijing-games-golden-girl-eileen-gu-yet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167710/winter-olympics-top-10-moments-beijing-games-golden-girl-eileen-gu-yet?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Feb 2022 06:15:21 +0000 The Shougang Big Air ski jump, built on the site of a decommissioned steel mill, has been the most talked-about venue of the Winter Olympics. While there’s been praise, it has also been criticised as dystopian and dreary. Beijing hopes not to add white elephant to that list as well. To keep the structure viable after the closing ceremony on Sunday evening, China plans to use it to train the next generation of Winter Olympic athletes, many of whom might have been inspired by watching Team China... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167713/winter-olympics-china-turn-steel-mill-ski-jump-giant-water-slide-hosts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167713/winter-olympics-china-turn-steel-mill-ski-jump-giant-water-slide-hosts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Feb 2022 04:15:21 +0000 It’s the penultimate day of the 2022 Winter Olympics, and doesn’t time fly when you're having fun? China’s Sui Wenjing and Han Cong put in a world-record performance last night in the short programme to finish ahead of ROC duo Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morosov. They then held off a strong challenge from the Russian contingent in the free skate to secure gold, putting in a world record with their overall score. Elsewhere there were medal events in bobsleigh, biathlon, skiing, speedskating and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167652/winter-olympics-chinas-world-record-pair-sui-and-han-chasing-gold-ice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167652/winter-olympics-chinas-world-record-pair-sui-and-han-chasing-gold-ice?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Feb 2022 02:59:52 +0000 It seems like every five minutes Eileen Gu’s name is being mentioned in connection with something or other, whether that’s winning medals, social media posts, or endorsing a product – she is the face of this Winter Olympics. Today was no different, the 18-year-old winning a third medal in Beijing, and a second of the golden variety, in this morning's half-pipe final.  China began its chase for another medal in the pairs figure skating event, too, with Pyeongchang silver medallists Sui Wenjing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167451/winter-olympics-chinas-superstar-eileen-gu-looks-end-games-gold-titles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167451/winter-olympics-chinas-superstar-eileen-gu-looks-end-games-gold-titles?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Feb 2022 01:30:15 +0000 The battle for medals in short-track speedskating might be over on the ice in Beijing, but a row is still brewing over one of the most contentious disciplines at the Winter Olympics. One of many flash points during the Games came during the men’s 1,000m competition. Skaters fell in every quarter-final race, and not one finished without an athlete being penalised and eliminated. For the South Koreans, it was devastating. Both of their medal hopefuls, Lee June-seo and Hwang Dae-heon, the world... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167438/winter-olympics-south-korea-still-riled-injustice-short-track?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167438/winter-olympics-south-korea-still-riled-injustice-short-track?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Feb 2022 12:15:16 +0000 The third and last act of the Eileen Gu show got under way on Thursday morning and unlike in her previous events, she cruised into the finals of the women's half-pipe. Gu previously said she finds qualification runs more nerve-wracking than finals, and needed her last attempt to make it into the medal round of the women’s slopestyle, where she won silver on Tuesday. Things were very different today. Gu stomped her authority on the event, scoring a 93.75 and 95.50 in her two runs. Her nearest... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167340/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-begins-bid-third-medal-games-usa-vs-canada?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167340/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-begins-bid-third-medal-games-usa-vs-canada?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Feb 2022 01:14:50 +0000 The 2022 Winter Olympics have already been China’s most successful and things got better still on day 12. Eight gold medals were up for grabs on Wednesday, and the host nation fancied its chances of success in three of those events – the men’s aerials, and the men’s and women’s short-track speedskating. Veteran skier Qi Guangpu got the evening off to the perfect start, adding men's freestyle skiing aerials gold to his silver from the mixed team event, and extending China's record Winter Olympics... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167197/winter-olympics-hong-kongs-adrian-yung-back-second-games-event-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167197/winter-olympics-hong-kongs-adrian-yung-back-second-games-event-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Feb 2022 02:00:12 +0000 At start of the Games, experts said China would win six golds and 13 medals overall and the host nation has hit the first of those targets and the second is well within reach. Su Yiming’s stunning performance in the men’s snowboarding big air took the host nation to six golds, and Eileen Gu’s silver in the freeski slopestyle means China are now just one short of fulfilling the second prediction. With Gu competing again in the half-pipe at the end of the week, and the country’s short-track speed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167051/winter-olympics-chinas-eileen-gu-rong-ge-and-su-yiming-hunt-gold-skies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167051/winter-olympics-chinas-eileen-gu-rong-ge-and-su-yiming-hunt-gold-skies?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Feb 2022 01:29:27 +0000 It was non-stop action on day 10 of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics on Monday. The figure skaters started the day strong with the free dance segment of the ice dance event, with France taking gold, Russia nabbing silver and the United States bagging bronze. Medals were also awarded for the inaugural women’s monobob event with the Americans sweeping gold and silver, while Canada settled for bronze. The day was also particularly good for China, as snowboarding genius Su Yiming qualified for the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167048/winter-olympics-5-things-watch-day-11-eileen-gu-eyes-more-gold-su?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3167048/winter-olympics-5-things-watch-day-11-eileen-gu-eyes-more-gold-su?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Feb 2022 23:24:13 +0000 Russia’s 15-year-old skating prodigy Kamila Valieva is set to compete against 29 other athletes in the women’s figure skating individual short programme on Tuesday night at the Beijing Winter Olympics – but only if she is cleared at a drugs hearing on Sunday night. A Russian Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada) disciplinary committee lifted a temporary suspension on Valieva on Wednesday, after she tested positive for a banned drug. Now, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166885/winter-olympics-doping-scandal-what-15-year-old-russian-figure-skater?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166885/winter-olympics-doping-scandal-what-15-year-old-russian-figure-skater?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Feb 2022 11:27:20 +0000 Criminals are using some Olympic-inspired ways to rip off high-spirited fans, and authorities have urged the public to “be extra cautious” as the Games continue in Beijing. From fake copies of the highly sought-after panda mascot Bing Dwen Dwen, to selling tickets for events in stadiums that are closed to the public, thousands of yuan have been stolen from careless or naive shoppers wanting a part of the 20220 Beijing Games. Here are some of the most common scams that are worth keeping an eye... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166855/winter-olympics-fake-tickets-bogus-lucky-draws-5-top-scams-being-used?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166855/winter-olympics-fake-tickets-bogus-lucky-draws-5-top-scams-being-used?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Feb 2022 04:40:47 +0000 It was a mixed day for China on Sunday, with the women winning bronze in the 3,000m short-track speedskating relay but medal hope Wu Dajing unable to defend his 500m title after being knocked out in the semi-finals. He finished first in the B final. Earlier, you wouldn't think too much snow would be a problem for the Winter Olympics, but Eileen Gu and China teammate Yang Shuorui had to wait for the women’s freeski slopestyle to begin. Bad weather forced organisers to postpone today's... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166849/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-begins-bid-second-gold-hong-kongs-adrian-yung?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166849/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-begins-bid-second-gold-hong-kongs-adrian-yung?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Feb 2022 01:55:37 +0000 Day nine of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is packed with excitement and big names with seven gold medals to be given out. The medal events start with the men’s giant slalom in the afternoon, while women’s 500m speedskating will close off the day. A hotly anticipated race is the men’s 500m race in short-track speedskating, where reigning world and Olympic record holder Wu Dajing will try to defend his title. The men’s giant slalom will also be a tight race with the vacuum left from 2018... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166847/winter-olympics-5-things-look-out-day-nine-return-eileen-gu-womens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166847/winter-olympics-5-things-look-out-day-nine-return-eileen-gu-womens?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Feb 2022 23:15:14 +0000 Recorded across continents, the Winter Olympics theme song Together for a Shared Future features more than 200 artists from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The lighthearted lyrics of the uptempo number talk about love, togetherness and collaboration, in tune with the Olympic spirit. More than 150,000 interpretations of the song can be found on the internet. The intergenerational cast is easily recognisable, but some new faces are standing out more than others. Read on to find out a little... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166807/tia-ray-and-jackson-yee-who-are-breakout-stars-winter-olympics-theme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166807/tia-ray-and-jackson-yee-who-are-breakout-stars-winter-olympics-theme?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Feb 2022 12:15:17 +0000 After the seemingly non-stop action of the past week we have a more sedate day in Beijing, which is certainly a welcome change. As a result, our usual blog has been replaced by this rolling story, with longer updates but on a less frequent basis. Chinese athletes do not appear on Saturday until 2.05pm, when the men’s curlers take to the ice for their round robin match against Italy. The women’s team, meanwhile, take to the ice this evening to face Sweden. The first gold of the day has gone to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166791/winter-olympics-mixed-team-snowboard-cross-makes-debut-chinas-men?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166791/winter-olympics-mixed-team-snowboard-cross-makes-debut-chinas-men?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Feb 2022 02:54:36 +0000 It's the end of one career in Beijing, and potentially a defining moment in another. Snowboard legend Shaun White has made his final Olympic appearance in the half-pipe, and while the romantics among us wanted to see him slide off into the sunset with a gold medal, he fell trying a second 1440 of his final run and came down the slope to the applause of the crowd. White's compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin has finished her super-G run in one piece and without crashing. The American skier has already... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166611/winter-olympics-snowboard-legend-shaun-white-chases-final-gold-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166611/winter-olympics-snowboard-legend-shaun-white-chases-final-gold-games?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Feb 2022 02:01:59 +0000 The medal events came thick and fast on Thursday, and America's Chloe Kim took gold in the women's half-pipe, proving far too good for the rest of the field. China's Cai Xuetong finished just outside the medal spots. China's freestyle skiing mixed aerials team of Qi Guangpu, Xu Mengtao and Jia Zongyang later pushed the US all the way, claiming silver in the event's Olympic debut. But all eyes on Thursday were on the ice rink in the morning, and the battle for gold in the men's free skate. Nathan... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166447/winter-olympics-cai-xuetong-chases-snowboard-gold-yuzuru-hanyu-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166447/winter-olympics-cai-xuetong-chases-snowboard-gold-yuzuru-hanyu-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Feb 2022 01:25:07 +0000 An exciting day five of the Winter Olympics ended on Wednesday with South Korea’s Hwang Dae-heon taking home gold in the men’s 1500m short-track speedskating event – redemption for failing to qualify for Monday’s 1000m final. China’s Ren Ziwei was penalised in the semi-final and did not reach the final, ending his chances of third gold medal. While it was a disappointing result for China, many fans took to Weibo to congratulate Ren for his efforts. We suspect this won’t be the last time we hear... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166451/winter-olympics-5-things-watch-out-day-6-nathan-chen-yuzuru-hanyu-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166451/winter-olympics-5-things-watch-out-day-6-nathan-chen-yuzuru-hanyu-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Feb 2022 23:00:10 +0000 Popularised by the classic 1993 film Cool Runnings, bobsleigh is one of the most iconic sports at the Winter Olympics. With athletes reaching speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour as they hurtle down the ice, the event will once again be one of the most intense on show in the Beijing 2022 programme. What is bobsleigh? Bobsleigh is a winter sport where athletes push a sleigh down an ice track and compete to reach the finish line in the fastest time. It is one of the three sliding sports on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3166355/winter-olympics-what-bobsleigh-everything-you-need-know-beijing-2022?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3166355/winter-olympics-what-bobsleigh-everything-you-need-know-beijing-2022?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Feb 2022 06:15:20 +0000 A day of Olympic debuts for some and the start of one last hurrah for others, day 5 at the Beijing Games was another exciting affair. Hong Kong skier Audrey King took to the slopes but was unable to register a finish in the Alpine skiing slalom. King was the first of the city's three athletes to compete in Beijing. Elsewhere, China's Ren Ziwei was chasing his third Bejing short-track speedskating gold in the men's 1,500m, but was given a penalty in the semi-finals. South Korea's Hwang Dae-heon... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166303/winter-olympics-hong-kongs-audrey-king-makes-games-debut-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166303/winter-olympics-hong-kongs-audrey-king-makes-games-debut-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Feb 2022 01:19:36 +0000 The Winter Olympics isn’t short of extreme sports. But one of the more unique events is the skeleton – where athletes throw themselves head first down an icy slope at speeds of up to 140 kilometres per hour. Here’s everything you need to know about the sport, ahead of its return to the global spotlight at February’s Beijing 2022 Winter Games. What is skeleton? Skeleton is a winter sport where athletes run and jump onto a sledge, belly down, and speed off down a track, using their legs and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3166237/winter-olympics-what-skeleton-everything-you-need-know-beijing-2022?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3166237/winter-olympics-what-skeleton-everything-you-need-know-beijing-2022?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Feb 2022 08:15:23 +0000 As one of the most recognisable winter sports, skiing will ring a familiar bell for many fans watching the Beijing 2022 Games, who may enjoy hitting the slopes on holiday. However, when it comes to competitive skiing, the sport is a whole different ball game. There are seven skiing events at the Winter Olympics, from classics that have been featured since the first Winter Games to contemporary additions with elements borrowed from extreme sports like BMX. Here’s everything you need to know about... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166184/winter-olympics-heres-everything-you-need-know-about-skiing-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166184/winter-olympics-heres-everything-you-need-know-about-skiing-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Feb 2022 02:45:17 +0000 Day 4 started full of promise, and boy has Eileen Gu lived up to it. The teenager has bagged China's third gold medal of the 2022 Beijing Games with a storming final run in the women's freeski big air contest. Still, questions persist over her nationality as she remained evasive on whether she still holds an American passport. Gu pulled off a 1620 that scored a 94.50 knocking fierce rival Tess Ledeux off top spot. Gu then watched as Ledeux failed to match her run and took the first title of her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166173/winter-olympics-chinas-eileen-gu-goes-big-air-gold-hanyu-boyang-chen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166173/winter-olympics-chinas-eileen-gu-goes-big-air-gold-hanyu-boyang-chen?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Feb 2022 01:32:32 +0000 It's been another big evening for China's athletes at the Winter Olympics, with another gold medal – and a silver – won in short-track speedskating. China's Ren Ziwei and Li Wenlong finished ahead of Hungary's Shaoang Liu on the podium for the men's 1,000 metres final, while Zhang Yuting just missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the final of the women's 500m event. Earlier, Su Yiming, the teenage snowboarder who announced himself in such style yesterday, won silver in the men's slopestyle,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166052/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-big-air-qualifying-china-chase-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3166052/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-big-air-qualifying-china-chase-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Feb 2022 01:16:43 +0000 Hong Kong only fielded four delegates at the Beijing 2022 Games opening ceremony despite sending a record number of athletes in its Winter Olympics history – much to flag-bearer Sidney Chu’s disappointment. The 22-year-old short-track speed skater was winged by mini Hong Kong flag-waving chef de mission Karl Kwok Chi-leung, Skiing Association of Hong Kong chairman Edmond Yue Kwok-yin and Hong Kong Skating Union chairman Yip Siu-yin at a rapturous Beijing National Stadium on Friday. Alpine ski... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3165994/winter-olympics-hong-kong-flag-bearer-sidney-chu-rues-missed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3165994/winter-olympics-hong-kong-flag-bearer-sidney-chu-rues-missed?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Feb 2022 06:15:12 +0000 The morning after the excitement of the night before, and China's speed skaters will still be basking in the glory of their golden performance in the mixed team relay. It's day two in Beijing, and already there have been some dramatic moments. The host nation's curlers were denied a spot in the semi-finals of the mixed doubles after losing to Great Britain. Elsewhere, 19-year-old Zhu Yi was unable to dazzle on her Olympic debut, taking a fall in the women's figure skating short programme.  In... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3165983/winter-olympics-chinas-curlers-battling-semi-final-spot-ice-goddess-zhu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3165983/winter-olympics-chinas-curlers-battling-semi-final-spot-ice-goddess-zhu?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Feb 2022 02:00:59 +0000 As a tropical city where winters are warm, Hong Kong is far removed from the ski slopes and Olympic-sized ice rinks available in mainland China. The city’s never-ending search for space also does not bode well for Hongkongers who might want to try out the sports featuring at the Beijing Winter Olympics. But all is not lost, and there are several options available to budding skiers and ice skaters in the city. While the outbreak of the Omicron variant has closed rinks and other indoor venues,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3165925/winter-olympics-inspired-beijing-games-heres-where-you-can-skate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3165925/winter-olympics-inspired-beijing-games-heres-where-you-can-skate?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Feb 2022 06:15:12 +0000 There is no hanging about in Beijing that's for sure, less than 24 hours after the stunning opening ceremony the business end of the Games begins. We have an action-packed Saturday ahead of us, with medal rounds in skiathlon, speedskating and freestyle moguls skiing. China's mixed relay team are heavily tipped for success in the short-track speedskating, with Wu Dajing, China’s only gold medallist at the 2018 Winter Games, expected to lead Fan Kexin, Ren Ziwei and Zhang Yuting in a race which... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3165913/winter-olympics-chinese-athletes-chase-gold-speedskating-skiing-day-1?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3165913/winter-olympics-chinese-athletes-chase-gold-speedskating-skiing-day-1?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Feb 2022 02:02:00 +0000 This story has been made freely available to our readers as part of our Olympics coverage. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The Winter Olympics officially opened in Beijing this evening and, for a moment at least, the athletes who will fly down the slopes, glide across the ice and soar through the air took centre stage. Against a backdrop of Covid-19 and international tensions, the pageantry of the opening ceremony will be analysed and dissected for its political... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3165768/winter-olympics-opening-ceremony?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3165768/winter-olympics-opening-ceremony?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Feb 2022 10:30:41 +0000 Tap here to launch this special feature https://www.scmp.com/infographics/sport/china/article/3165780/sealed-winter-games-closed-loop-system-explained?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/infographics/sport/china/article/3165780/sealed-winter-games-closed-loop-system-explained?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Feb 2022 04:00:27 +0000 It’s the sport where you lie down on a modified sledge and hurtle yourself across an icy slide at speeds of up to 145km an hour. But as it gets set to reclaim the spotlight at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the Post is here to tell you everything you need to know about this extreme version of sledding. What is luge? Luge is a winter sport where competitors use a sledge in a supine position (lying on their back) and steer their way down a track through subtle leg and shoulder movements.... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3165777/winter-olympics-what-luge-everything-you-need-know-beijing-2022-contenders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3165777/winter-olympics-what-luge-everything-you-need-know-beijing-2022-contenders?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Feb 2022 03:30:22 +0000 Despite myriad boycotts, scandals and the threat of Covid-19, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are finally here. The Games officially begin with the opening ceremony at 8pm on Friday, February 4 and end on Sunday, February 20. Hong Kong is sending three athletes, its largest winter delegation ever, while China is sending a team of 176. The 2022 Winter Olympics will see a record 109 events over 15 disciplines in seven sports, representing an increase of seven events from the 2018 Pyeongchang... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3165707/winter-olympics-how-watch-beijing-2022-games-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3165707/winter-olympics-how-watch-beijing-2022-games-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Feb 2022 00:15:15 +0000 The natural reaction of the general public to watching the Olympic sport of curling is usually one of confusion and amusement, as they watch athletes slowly slide across the ice while frantically sweeping in front of a stone. Of course, first glances can be deceiving, and curling is much more complex and tense than many would imagine, with the sport sometimes referred to as “chess on ice” because of the amount of strategy involved. With curling set to be the first event on show at the Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/beijing-winter-olympics-2022/explainers/article/3165519/winter-olympics-what-curling-how-chess-ice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/beijing-winter-olympics-2022/explainers/article/3165519/winter-olympics-what-curling-how-chess-ice?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Feb 2022 00:15:13 +0000 High-speed collisions, spectacular spills and frightening falls – as an international event full of extreme sports, it’s no wonder the Winter Olympics has seen its fair share of big injuries. The 2018 Pyeongchang Games witnessed several hair-raising incidents, with some events made even riskier on days affected by severe weather. British snowboarder Aimee Fuller admitted she was “lucky to be in one piece” after crashing on her final jump during the women’s snowboard slopestyle in South Korea,... https://www.scmp.com/beijing-winter-olympics-2022/explainers/article/3165315/how-dangerous-are-winter-olympics-why?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/beijing-winter-olympics-2022/explainers/article/3165315/how-dangerous-are-winter-olympics-why?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Feb 2022 02:30:16 +0000 While women’s ice hockey at the Winter Olympics has grown in leaps and bounds over the last two decades, since first being introduced in 1998 at Nagano, there has always been two perennial contenders: Canada and the US. Come February, you can expect a Goliath vs Goliath battle that will have a unique twist, with both heavyweights in the same group for the round robin stage. Of course, Sweden won silver in 2006 – the only time someone other than the Canucks or the Yankees finished first or second... https://www.scmp.com/beijing-winter-olympics-2022/explainers/article/3165026/winter-olympics-five-women-watch-ice-hockey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/beijing-winter-olympics-2022/explainers/article/3165026/winter-olympics-five-women-watch-ice-hockey?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Jan 2022 04:15:14 +0000 Olympic athletes put their minds and bodies on the line for years just to make it to the Games – competing at the world’s biggest sporting event is no easy task, with many challenges and setbacks along the way. So it’s no wonder their journeys make for such compelling stories on the big screen. Ahead of next month’s Beijing 2022 Winter Games, the Post has ranked some of our favourite winter sports films that tell stories of athletes and their coaches defeating the odds to achieve their Olympic... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3165017/winter-olympics-10-films-get-you-ready-beijing-games-cool-runnings-south?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3165017/winter-olympics-10-films-get-you-ready-beijing-games-cool-runnings-south?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Jan 2022 03:15:18 +0000 Dear readers, In just nine days, Beijing will stage an Olympics for the second time in 14 years when the Winter Games start on February 4. The Chinese capital is the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics, and once again the country is pulling out all the stops in an attempt to make it a success. What success looks like is hard to say, but China’s athletes have a better chance than ever before to grab gold, silver, and bronze medals in events they have not traditionally done well... https://www.scmp.com/announcements/article/3164900/winter-olympics-chinas-athletes-chase-glory-slopes-tracks-and-ice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/announcements/article/3164900/winter-olympics-chinas-athletes-chase-glory-slopes-tracks-and-ice?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Jan 2022 07:00:14 +0000 When the clock counts down the final seconds to the start of the Winter Olympics in 10 days time, amid all the excitement, pomp and ceremony in Beijing, one man will be taking it all in and trying to keep a check on his emotions. The lighting of the flame will be the culmination of months of hard work for Christophe Dubi, the International Olympic Committee’s executive director, and his team, who are responsible for ensuring the event goes off without a hitch. In a normal Olympic year that would... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3164676/winter-olympics-ioc-leaving-no-stone-unturned-ensure-safe-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3164676/winter-olympics-ioc-leaving-no-stone-unturned-ensure-safe-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:00:22 +0000 China said it may punish athletes whose words and actions go against Chinese laws at next month’s Beijing Winter Olympics, as human rights activists warned participants against speaking out on sensitive issues to ensure their safety during the Games. “Any expression that is in line with the Olympic spirit, I’m sure will be protected. Any behaviour or speeches that are against the Olympic spirit, and especially against Chinese laws and regulations are also subjected to certain punishment,” Yang... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3163950/winter-olympics-chinese-official-says-those-who-speak-out-sensitive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3163950/winter-olympics-chinese-official-says-those-who-speak-out-sensitive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Jan 2022 10:15:19 +0000 Top Olympic official Christophe Dubi said their experience dealing with the coronavirus Delta variant will help to ensure a safe Beijing 2022 as China battles a surge in Omicron cases with the opening ceremony less than three weeks away. The outbreaks in several mainland cities are testing the country’s strict “zero-Covid” strategy, with Games organisers insisting the “closed loop” will keep the coronavirus out. China on Monday also cancelled plans to sell tickets to the public, allowing only... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3163714/winter-olympics-ioc-says-tokyo-2020-delta-experience-will-help?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3163714/winter-olympics-ioc-says-tokyo-2020-delta-experience-will-help?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Jan 2022 12:15:15 +0000 Organisers of February’s 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing said they were confident its coronavirus prevention measures “will not be compromised”, as the Chinese capital tightens Covid-19 rules ahead of the Games. International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Director Christophe Dubi told the Post there would be no transmission between those inside and outside the “closed loop”, a sealed-off area where the Games will take place across three zones. “The measures that [Beijing’s organisers] have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3163507/beijing-2022-winter-games-closed-loop-impenetrable-ioc-director?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3163507/beijing-2022-winter-games-closed-loop-impenetrable-ioc-director?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Jan 2022 04:53:36 +0000