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SCMP Sport

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 implications as much as its cultural ones. Still, history is being made in China, with the capital becoming the first city to host both a Summer and Winter Games.
Hong Kong speed skater Sidney Chu carried the city's flag tonight, and was greeted with applause by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Relive all the action as it happened with Friday's blog.
Reporting by Josh Ball, Matt Eaton, Nic Atkin, Andrew McNicol, Jess Ma, Harvey Kong, Mia Castagnone.


Eileen Gu to be in spotlight at Winter Olympics again but passport issue refuses to go away

Ryan Wedding arrested: ex-Olympian fugitive on FBI’s ‘most wanted’ list caught in Mexico

Hong Kong short-track speed skaters eager to race against world’s best at Winter Olympics

How Olympians think about success and failure – and what we can learn from them

Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Winter Olympics: Beijing 2022 opening ceremony, as it happened

Winter Olympics: what does success look like for China at Beijing 2022?

Gold medalists Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China pose during the medal ceremony for the pairs free skating at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Seoul, on February 8, 2020. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/AFP

China’s Sui Wenjing and Han Cong perform during the pairs free skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in November 2021. Photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP

China’s Eileen Gu waves to the camera after competing in the women’s half-pipe skiing qualifiers of the US Grand Prix and World Cup on Friday, March 19, 2021, at Buttermilk Ski Area in Aspen, Colorado. Photo: Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times via AP

The National Stadium, known as the ‘Bird’s Nest’ (left), and the National Aquatics Center, known as the ‘Ice Cube’ (right), the venue for Curling at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, is seen in Beijing on January 3, 2022, a month before the opening of the Games. Photo: Greg Baker/AFP

Vehicles run on a main road, with air pollution visible on the skyline, in Beijing, China, on January 30, 2022. According to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the operations of some factories will be restricted during the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to limit pollution and ensure good air quality.  Photo: EPA-EFE/Wu Hong

A member of staff wearing protective gear works inside the Olympic main media centre, which is part of the Olympic Covid-19 ‘bubble’. Photo: EPA-EFE

A member of security staff closes an entrance gate to the Olympic Covid-19 bubble in Beijing. Photo: EPA/EFE

Human rights groups gather to raise slogans to boycott the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics 2022, in Taipei, Taiwan,. They called on the public to confront China’s alleged human rights abuses, athletes’ safety and freedom of speech. Photo: AP/Chiang Ying-ying

Sealed off winter games: The closed loop system explained

Sport

China

Beijing Winter Games 2022

Explainers


Olympic Flame lit by Zhao Jiawen and Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a cross country skier of Uygur heritage, as athletes take centre stage
'We show the world it is possible to be fierce rivals and live peacefully and respectfully together,' IOC president says in Bird's Nest speech



Olympic Flame lit by Zhao Jiawen and Dinigeer Yilamujiang – a cross country skier of Uygur heritage – as athletes take centre stage.


Live

When the Games are officially declared open later this evening, some athletes will have already started their bids for gold, silver and bronze.
And Chinese figure skaters Sui Wenjing and Han Cong have had a great start, setting a new world record in the short programme.
There routine to the orchestra suite from Mission Impossible 2 wowed the crowd, and their 82.83 points were also a new personal best.


The Games have already begun...sort of

China’s goaltender Kimberly Newell could not hold her tears after helping China win their first match in the women’s ice hockey at the Winter Olympics following their last victory at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
China came from behind to beat Denmark 3-1 in Group B on Friday after losing their opening game to Czech Republic 3-1 on Thursday.
Newell was a member of the junior Canadian team that won the Under-18 World Championships and became a naturalised player for China four years ago.
“I am very thankful for the opportunity of representing China and winning the match,” she said. “I feel very proud of it.”


Emotional moment for Chinese goalie

Before tonight’s 2022 Winter Games opening in Beijing, renowned film director Zhang Yimou asked people to forget about what they did for the 2008 Beijing Games opening 14 years ago, when they told the world about China’s historic culture of 5,000 years.
“It won’t be like the 2008 opening when we spent a lot of time on showcasing our old, traditional and ancient civilization,” Zhang, who has been in charge for both openings, said. “We have already done that as the world has witnessed such wonderful things.
“We will focus on two things this time. One is to run for the future and another one is to become more solidarity. Our views will be for the whole world, for all mankind and for everyone of us. Therefore it is just a self-confidence in culture.”



Looking forward not back

Tonight’s opening ceremony goes down at the distinctive Bird's Nest stadium, and will be a much more subdued affair than the lavish 2008 extravaganza. 
Zhang has promised a "totally innovative" ceremony, but conceded the pandemic and freezing weather will limit its scale compared to the Summer Games.
A total of 3,000 performers will take part in the opening ceremony, compared to 15,000 performers who took part in the 2008 extravaganza.


A scaled down ceremony

Norway skiing coach Eirik Myhr Nossum says his team will do whatever it takes to get Simen Hegstad Krueger back from a positive Covid-19 test in time for the blue ribband 50km men's race at the Beijing Games on February 19.
Speaking to state broadcaster NRK, Nossum said 2018 double Olympic champion Krueger was not feeling any ill effects, and had been cycling in his room to keep fit as he awaits the negative test results that could open the door for an appearance in China.
"I'm very happy with Simen's results lately. I can reveal that we're trying to get Simen here ... we got very positive PCR results the last few days, and we'll get more today, I believe he'll be here the 11th or 13th of February," Nossum said.


Norway’s Krueger push

Post reporter Kinling Lo is among the lucky ones getting to see the opening ceremony up close.
After two Covid tests, an hour of waiting and a security check - finally on my way to Beijing’s National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony tonight at 8pm. So here it goes: pic.twitter.com/o1m0fvh9iX
  — Kinling Lo 盧建靈 (@kinlinglo) February 4, 2022


A Bird’s eye view

Sidney Chu said he is “incredibly honoured” to lead Hong Kong’s delegation at the Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony tonight, but “heartbroken” his fellow history-making teammates will not be joining him.
Short-track speed skater Chu’s flagbearing duties were confirmed by the Hong Kong Sports Federation and Olympic Committee earlier in the week after Alpine skier Audrey King tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival last Sunday.
King has since tested negative for two consecutive days and is out of mandatory isolation, while teammate Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen and head coach Marko Rudic – deemed close contacts – are required to undergo relevant testing precautions in the sealed Beijing bubble. You can see the full interview with Chu here.



Sidney Chu ‘incredibly honoured’

After the opening ceremony at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, NBC, the official broadcaster of the event in the US, reported some viewers were “confused” at the order by which the teams entered.
That’s because the participating teams didn’t enter according to the English alphabetical order, but by the order set in the Japanese language. That meant Iceland entered second after Greece, which always comes first in what’s known as the Parade of Nations as it’s the historical founding nation of the Olympics. 
Things get much more complicated at the coming winter games in China, however, as the Chinese language does not have an alphabet. Instead, indexing in the language for the opening ceremony is done according to stroke order, which arranges words based on how many strokes the first character of the word has, and then the order by which the strokes are written - the straight horizontal stroke comes before the straight vertical stroke, for example. (Bloomberg)


Out of alphabetical order

We’re about an hour away from the start of the start of the opening ceremony, here’s what that looked like the last time Beijing hosted a Games in 2008.
From 2008 to 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ and from Summer to Winter, we reunite in #Beijing,✨the world’s first #DualOlympicCity. 🎉Let's go faster, aim higher and grow stronger by standing together at the ✨#Beijing2022 ✨#Olympic❄ #WinterGames! 💪#TogetherForASharedFuture🎉 pic.twitter.com/Xw3GoGOmRL
  — Beijing 2022 (@Beijing2022) January 31, 2022


Back to the future

Chinese figure skating pair Sui Wenjing and Han Cong set a new world record earlier this evening as they dazzled their way to a new personal best of 82.83 points.
Even better was the fact that they did it to the soundtrack of Mission Impossible 2.
"We were still nervous and uneasy when we participated in the Olympics for the first time [at PyeongChang 2018]. Now it's the Beijing Winter Olympics in my hometown,” Sui said.
"For us, it's about being our best selves and showing our best selves; show good programs to the world, and hope that more people can fall in love with figure skating and winter sports because of us."



A new world record

Here’s a first look inside the Bird's Nest stadium. The opening ceremony is just 45 minutes away.
Hong Kong, Macau and foreign media are seated in the same section where we were each assigned to sit one to three seats away from each other.
  The 80,000-capacity stadium was expected to have a lot of empty seats since all attendance were by invitation under the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/7eFZGHmQ99
  — Kinling Lo 盧建靈 (@kinlinglo) February 4, 2022


The countdown begins

Flag-bearers for the Beijing 2022 Opening Ceremony have been announced and former Hong Kong resident and globe-trotting DJ Benjamin Alexander will be carrying the flag for Jamaica. 
And to think Alexander only took up skiing in 2015. He’s now an Olympian.
See our story with Alexander right here. 



Benjamin Alexander represents

They may have more Winter Olympic medals than any other nation, but a succession of positive Covid-19 tests in the camp has left Norway clinging to the hope their athletes can make it to the start lines at the Beijing Games, never mind the podiums.
Every day seems to bring a new story of a Norwegian positive test or a close contact, with several athletes in isolation and several more who haven’t even made it to China from Europe yet.
Read the full story here. Reuters



Covid-19 leaves Norway camp reeling

Cordia Tsoi Po-yee, Hong Kong's first Winter Olympian, recalls proudly waving the Hong Kong flag at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games alongside short-track speed skating teammate Christy Ren. Some 20 years later, and men's short-track star Sidney Chu is doing the honours.
"Representing my country was something I had aspired for as an athlete for my entire life. Watching the Hong Kong flag fly was an honour and like a beacon of hope," she says.
"To this delegation: you have earned your place at the Olympics. You have earned the right to wear Hong Kong's colours, among not only the world's most elite athletes, but humanity. Do as you have done every day before this day, and you will excel."


Cordia Tsoi’s Olympic message

There's still some time before the opening ceremony begins, but the Bird’s Nest has come to life with ... square dancers.
Believe it or not, square dancing is popular in China. Middle-aged women are often seen dancing in town squares for health and entertainment. 
Opening ceremony of #Beijing2022 kicks off with one of the most beloved of Chinese traditions: square dancing pic.twitter.com/5ejNYRdrdj
  — Amy Qin (@amyyqin) February 4, 2022


Square dancing inside the Bird’s Nest

The entertainment is under way at the Bird’s Nest ahead of the main opening ceremony.
There are certainly plenty of crazy costumes on show.



Get the party started

Chinese President Xi Jinping enters the stadium with his wife Peng Liyuan, followed by IOC President Thomas Bach.



Xi arrives at National Stadium

Hong Kong flag-bearer Sidney Chu is a fan of Cool Runnings. 
The 22-year-old posted a photo with the Jamaican bobsled team as he awaits further instructions having gone through official security checks.



Cool Runnings

They’ve gone with the fireworks early in Beijing.
The opening ceremony begins with a delicate light display of performers holding up green light poles in a formation resembling dandelions. This marks the opening of the Winter Olympics on Lichun, which symbolises the beginning of Spring in traditional Chinese calendar.

 


Ceremony opens with homage to agriculture

Representatives from the 56 ethnic groups of China and soldiers pass the country’s national flag along for a flag raising ceremony.
The soldiers march the flag to be raised inside the stadium, before the playing of March of the Volunteers, the Chinese national anthem.



Chinese flag appears

Bobsleigh brakeman Ashley Watson is getting ready for the opening ceremony.
#TeamJamaica 🇯🇲 bobsled brakeman Ashley Watson getting ready for #Beijing2020 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. #GuhHaadAndDone #WinterOlympics
  📹 ⁦@AshdabizWatson⁩ pic.twitter.com/VwmYmKJOrm
  — Team Jamaica (@TeamJA876) February 4, 2022


Jamaica are getting ready

A virtual ice hockey performance breaking virtual ice, represents breaking barriers and mutual understanding, and the fostering of peace.


Breaking barriers in Beijing

Some stunning images inside the Bird's Nest. 




Stunning scenery

As the Olympic rings rise, the athletes procession begins with Greece marching first.
Turkey is the first country to enter the stadium, with short-track speedskater Furkan Akar and cross-country skier Aysenur Duman as flag bearers.
Turkey is the first to enter after Greece, as the characters in its name in Chinese has three strokes.
The teams are entering using the Chinese language system, according to the number of strokes in the country name. Turkey will be the first to enter after Greece, as the characters in its name in Chinese has three strokes. China, as the host nation, is entering last, followed by South Korea who was the previous host nation..


Alphabetical disorder?

Malaysia’s flagbearer are alpine skier Jeffrey Webb, who debuted in the Pyeongchang Games four years ago and fellow alpine skier 17-year-old Aruwin Salehhuddin, 
Aruwin is the first Malaysian female skier at the Olympics.
“I’m really excited that I get to go and put Malaysia on the map for winter sports. I’m really going to enjoy the experience,” the 23-year-old Webb told Malaysian media.
The country’s first Winter Olympics was the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, with Webb and figure skater Julian Yee.


First Southeast Asian country enters

Taiwanese speed skater Huang Yu-ting, who drew criticism after donning a Chinese uniform on Thursday, is the team flag bearer.
Hong Kong should be next!



Taiwan enters the stadium

Sidney Chu is the flag bearer for Hong Kong, the 22 year-old short-track speedskater will compete in the men’s 500m event.
Audrey King could not attend as she had been a Covid-19 close contact and was still in observation. She tested negative yesterday but must still undergo isolation.
Camera cuts to Xi Jinping shortly after Hong Kong enter the stadium to show the Chinese president clapping.



Hong Kong enter the stadium

Jamaica enters the stadium.
Flagbearer Benjamin Alexander is the first and only athlete to represent Jamaica in alpine skiing, while fellow flag-bearer Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian is a two-time Olympic bobsledder. 

The country will be fielding athletes in three bobsleigh events, with a four-man team making a return for the first time in 24 years.
The story of the first Jamaican bobsleigh team was popularised in the hit 1993 film Cool Runnings.
#TeamJamaica 🇯🇲 bobsled brakeman Ashley Watson getting ready for #Beijing2020 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. #GuhHaadAndDone #WinterOlympics
  📹 ⁦@AshdabizWatson⁩ pic.twitter.com/VwmYmKJOrm
  — Team Jamaica (@TeamJA876) February 4, 2022


Feel the rhythm

Brazil are led by bobsledder and flag bearer Edson Bindilatti.
He will be joined by cross-country skier Jaqueline Mourão. Brazil has 11 athletes, seven men, four women, competing in four sports. Not many Latin American nations have attended the Winter Games but Brazil has had a perfect attendance since their first outing in 1992.



Edson Bindilatti leads for Brazil

Two-time Olympic champion in ice hockey, Marie-Philip Poulin and short track speed skater Charles Hamelin are Canada’s flag bearers.
Poulin is the third ice hockey athlete to carry the Canadian flag, while Hamelin is the first short-track speedskater for Canada.
"Every time I would walk into an Opening Ceremony, I would look at the flag bearer as a role model. To be named flag bearer is something I can now check off my to do list,” Hamelin said.
The winter sports powerhouse, ranking third in total medal count in the last Winter Olympics, is decked out in bright red gear from American-Canadian brand Lululemon. This is the first time the sportswear brand is sponsoring national Olympic uniforms.
#OpeningCeremony fit check 🔥 for Team Canada 🇨🇦🤩 @lululemon
  You can watch the #Beijing2022 opening ceremony with live coverage beginning at 6:30 a.m. ET and there are many ways to watch whether you're at home, at work or on the go
  ➡️ https://t.co/M2XwPizNLq
  📸: @TeamCanada pic.twitter.com/NubghtY0tO
  — CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 4, 2022


Canada enters in a sea of red - by Lululemon

There is lots of support inside the Bird’s Nest for Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Audience cheered hard for entrance of “Chinese Taipei”- a name Taiwan’s team use in Olympics - as part of a decades-old agreement with China brokered by the IOC.
  Taiwan had to alter its decision of not attending the ceremony after being requested by the IOC. pic.twitter.com/50wbPzkXuS
  — Kinling Lo 盧建靈 (@kinlinglo) February 4, 2022


Lots of cheering for Hong Kong and Taiwan

The White House is celebrating the Winter Games in Beijing with a light celebration.
Tonight the White House is lit up in red, white, and blue in support of all the Olympians and Paralympians proudly representing our country. Go Team USA! pic.twitter.com/tegcrcCoqs
  — The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 4, 2022


The White House lights up

Saudi Arabia enters for the first time in the Winter Olympics.
The team is represented by alpine skier Fayik Abdi, who only started training in August last year.
Saudi Arabia! welcome!🇸🇦#Beijing2022WinterOlympics #WinterOlympics https://t.co/wqFBzOQ8wy pic.twitter.com/bo6dNVBW2M
  — ShanghaiPanda (@thinking_panda) February 4, 2022


Saudi Arabia make their debut

At the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, no detail is overlooked.
Every nation is being led into the stadium by someone carrying a glowing snowflake-shaped placard bearing that country’s name. And each of the snowflakes, when put back together, would form a larger snowflake.
The placard bearers’ costumes has an ice-and-snow pattern, and their hats have a tiger motif — because this year is the Year of the Tiger in China.



No detail left overlooked

In the city of Shenzhen, a drone light show is taking place to celebrate the opening ceremony. 
A broader scope view of the amazing light & #drone opening show presented in #Shenzhen Citizen Center. . Check this out! #WinterOlympics #WinterOlympics2022 #SHOWTIME #BEIJING2022 #Beijing2022WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/KEppYbST7Y
  — Shenzhen Channel (@sz_mediagroup) February 4, 2022


Celebrating across China

Russian hockey player Vadim Shipachyov and speedskater Olga Fatkulina carry the flag for the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
Shipachyov was part of Russia’s gold-medal winning hockey team at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, while Fatkulina competed at the 2010 Games and won silver at the 2014 Games.
Russian president Vladimir Putin stands to clap their entry into the stadium.

Russia is competing under the ROC name for the second consecutive Olympics, after the Tokyo Games, as a result of a ban from the IOC due to a state-run doping scandal.
Chinese audience definitely know who their friends are: claps and cheers for the Russian team. pic.twitter.com/KjdzEq8ZxW
  — Kinling Lo 盧建靈 (@kinlinglo) February 4, 2022


ROC represents for Russia

Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan is attending the opening ceremony. The PM is among two dozen world leaders including Vladimir Putin of Russia and Saudi Arabia's Crown prince Mohammed bin Salamn.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI attending the opening ceremony of #Beijing2022WinterOlympics at Bird’s Nest, Beijing.#PMIKinChina #Beijing2022 pic.twitter.com/LGNioJzUm9
  — MPA,Mrs Sabrina Javaid -(PTI) (@JavaidSabrina) February 4, 2022


Imran Khan looks on

While the US team made their entry with uniforms made by long-term supplier Ralph Lauren, female US athletes will be donning Kim Kardashian’s loungewear brand Skims during the games.
Skims will be providing loungewear, sleepwear, and innerwear for female US athletes competing in Beijing.
Stars like snowboarder Chloe Kim, ice dancer Madison Chock, and two-time Olympic medallist bobsledder Aja Evans are in an advertising campaign for the limited collection.
Cool kids in the back #teamusa pic.twitter.com/mygD2sgQSW
  — Hilary Knight (@HilaryKnight) February 4, 2022


Got you covered

Norway, the country with the most Winter Olympic medals in history, enter the stadium. The Norwegian flag is carried by alpine skier Kjetil Jansrud and curling athlete Kristin Skaslien.
The Scandinavian country topped the medals table at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, and is also home to several notable winter sports such as biathlon, which is used to form part of its military training.
Norway were again set to take home the most number of medals at these Games, in official predictions by data research group Nielsen Gracenote, but their camp has been hit by several Covid-19 positives.



The champs are here

Nathan Crumpton steps out for American Samoa in a traditional garb. Remember it's minus 4 degrees in Beijing tonight.

 


A very brave Nathan Crumpton

At least two of the women who would have been flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics were not in the parade of athletes on Friday night because of virus-related issues.
US bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor had to give up her spot to speed skater Brittany Bowe. Meyers Taylor remains in isolation after a positive test.
And Friday, US Virgin Islands skeleton athlete Katie Tannenbaum revealed that she, too, has tested positive for Covid-19. The Virgin Islands flag was being carried into the stadium by a volunteer.
Tannenbaum is the only athlete representing the Virgin Islands in Beijing at these games. Her coach, Alex Auer, and the nation’s Chef de Mission, Ansen Siglar, were walking to represent the team.


Unlucky pair miss out

Thailand becomes the second Southeast Asian team to enter. Alpine skier Nicola Zanon and cross-country skier Karen Chanloung are carrying Thailand’s flag. 
Both athletes are returnees from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Joining them are Karen’s brother Mark Chanloung, an alpine skier and flag bearer for Thailand in 2018, and Mida Fah Jaiman, who will participate in alpine skiing.
The tropical nation has been sending athletes to the Winter Olympics since 2002.



Thailand’s turn

Asa Miller is the flag bearer for the Philippines, the 21-year-old alpine skier is the country’s sole representative at the Beijing Games.
Miller is a returning Olympian, having competed at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
LOOK: Filipino alpine skier Asa Miller proudly waves the 🇵🇭 flag in the #Beijing2022 opening ceremony.
  Miller is the lone Filipino athlete in this year's Winter Olympics, competing in the slalom and giant slalom events. @cnnphilippines @sportsdeskph pic.twitter.com/da1sUp6Yge
  — David Tristan Yumol (@dtdyumol) February 4, 2022


Asa Miller represents for the Philippines

Here comes Haiti.
Richardson Viano, the 19-year-old alpine skier, enters the Bird’s Nest as Haiti’s flag bearer.
This will be Haiti’s debut at the Winter Games.



Haiti takes a bow

Host of the last Winter Olympics, Republic of Korea enter led by flag bearers Yoongi Kwak and A-Lang Kim.
 
Welcome to #Beijing2022, Republic of Korea. 🇰🇷Anyone else getting #PyeongChang2018 flashbacks!? 😍#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/O8ZNwfVBMU
— Olympics (@Olympics) February 4, 2022


Republic of Korea looking sharp

Sweden enters the stadium with flag bearers Oliwer Magnusson and Emma Nordin.
Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo is dressing the team for these Games.



Swede style

The Mexican flag is held by figure skater Donovan Carrillo and alpine skier Sarah Schleper. The team is wearing white uniforms with a skull, inspired by the ‘Day of the Dead’ festival. 
Four athletes, three men and one woman, will represent Mexico in the country’s 10th appearance at the Winter Olympics. 
Carrillo is Mexico’s first skater in 30 years to compete at the Winter Olympics.
On Instagram he expressed his excitement and honour to be the flag bearer: “Carrying the national flag at the opening of the Olympic Games will be a dream come true.”
  
  
 
  
 
 


 


  
View this post on Instagram

 
  
  
 
 
 

  
 
 

  
 
 
 


  
 
 

A post shared by Donovan Daniel Carrillo Suazo. (@donovandcarr)




Day of the Dead

Team Canada is trending on Weibo, China's version of Twitter, as users get excited over their stylish, vibrant red uniform by Lululemon.
One savvy user shared a Team Canada scarf on sale on Taobao, the Chinese e-commerce site.



Team Canada trends on Weibo

China’s flag bearers Gao Tingyu and Zhao Dan have just walked in, leading the Chinese team. The camera again pans to President Xi Jinping, who is stood up and waving towards the Chinese team with wife Peng Liyuan
“It’s exciting enough to compete at home, bearing the Chinese national flag gives me extra motivation,” speed skater Gao wrote on Chinese social media site Weibo.
Zhao will be the first Chinese athlete to compete in the women’s skeleton at the Games.
In Olympic history, the host nation has won the skeleton event in the last three Olympics. Zhao will have an edge over her competitors as local athletes have access to the competition track for practice.
“It gives me a bigger sense of responsibility and mission. I will cherish this trust in me, give full play to my potential and show the best of myself in the competition,” Zhao wrote on Weibo.


Chinese team enters to huge roar

Entering second last as the next Winter Olympics host, Pyeongchang snowboard gold medallist Michela Moioli hoists the Italian flag.
The European country ranked 12th in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, with two gold medals in short-track speedskating and Moioli’s gold in snowboard cross.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina D’Ampezzo, a ski resort in northern Italy. Cortina D’Ampezzo was also the location for the 1956 Winter Games.



Penultimate entry for the next host

Team China rounds out the end of the parade of nations, entering the stadium as the audience continue to wave the Chinese flags.
The stadium dims as volunteers take the plaque of countries to form a circle at the center of the stadium.
And of course, full house round of applause for the last team of entrance: China, with President Xi and his wife Peng both standing up.  Special background music is the classic patriotic song: Ode to the Motherland pic.twitter.com/5WYFkV3nOl
  — Kinling Lo 盧建靈 (@kinlinglo) February 4, 2022


Stadium roars, then dims

Cai Qi, president of the Beijing Olympic Committee, says the Olympic movement is a bridge between cultures.
"I wish to extend our warmest welcome to you. Fourteen years ago, we lifted the curtain for Beijing Olympics right here, fulfilling a century-old dream to host the Olympics . Today Beijing becomes the first city ever to host the summer and winter Olympics, China writes a new chapter of the Olympic movement.
"As we continue to live under the impact of Covid-19, the safety of participants remains our top priority. Let us stand together in solidarity, mutual understanding and mutual support to deliver a simple, splendid and safe Olympic games," Cai said.



Cai Qi: Olympics a ‘bridge between cultures’

Cai Qi, president of the Beijing organising committee, wraps up his speech by calling the 2022 Games a “victory of solidarity, of fulfilled dreams, and the Olympic spirit.”
“As we continue to live under the impact of Covid-19, the safety of participants remains our top priority.
“Let us stand together in solidarity, mutual understanding and mutual support to deliver a simple, splendid and safe Olympic Games.” 


‘Victory of solidarity’

The president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach shows off his language skills, wishing everyone a happy new year and much auspiciousness in Chinese.
In English, he continues: “Today, thanks to this ambition, China is a winter sport country where over 300 million people are engaged in winter sports in over 2000 resorts and ice rinks. This achievement opens a new chapter for winter sports.”
He tells volunteers that their “smiling eyes warm our hearts”.
“Our gratitude is even deeper to the organising committee, thank you for making this Winter Olympic Games happen, and thank you for making it happen in a way that is safe for everyone.”


IOC president Thomas Bach addresses stadium

IOC president Thomas Bach has thanked the volunteers for warming the hearts of those involved with their “smiling eyes”.
The camera is picking out two flag bearers behind the president, who are either really happy, or have had their smiles frozen on by the cold.
Une seconde personnalité importantes des JO prend la parole :#JeuxOlympiques #Pekin2022 #Beijing2022 pic.twitter.com/OPRcux5jKz
  — Antoine (@AntoineLeonzi) February 4, 2022


Volunteers frozen solid?

IOC president Thomas Bach invites Chinese President Xi Jinping to open the 2022 Winter Games.
Xi keeps it simple, stepping up and saying, “Let it begin.”
That sparks a huge fireworks display at the National Stadium. The Bird’s Nest is resplendent in gold, with the Ice Cube alternating in rainbow colours to signify the beginning of the Games.



Xi Jinping opens 2022 Winter games

“Conflict and mistrust is on the rise, we show the world it is possible to be fierce rivals and live peacefully and respectfully together,” said IOC president Thomas Bach.
“This is the mission of the Olympic Games, always building bridges and never erecting walls."

