Everything you need to know about the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

Less than six months after the Tokyo Summer Games wrapped up, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will get underway this week.

Well here we are – another Olympic Games.

Less than six months after the Tokyo Summer Games wrapped up, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics get underway this week, albeit in a tightly sealed biosecurity bubble with Covid-19 tests and extreme health precautions.

Beijing secured the hosting rights in 2015 when the International Olympic Committee opted for the Chinese capital over Almaty, Kazakhstan. It becomes the first city to host both Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

A total of 13 venues split between Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou will be used across the 17 days of competition, and there will be plenty of Aussies in action.

But the competition has already been overshadowed by controversies – fears for the safety of Peng Shuai, warnings about snooping by the Chinese government and the environmental impact of an Olympics which will rely almost entirely on man-made snow.

Here’s everything you need to know for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

When is the Opening and Closing Ceremony?

Even though some events started earlier in the week, the Opening Ceremony will get underway on Friday, February 4 at 11pm AEDT at the National Stadium in Beijing.

The Closing Ceremony will take place in the same venue on Sunday February, 20 at 1pm AEDT.

As with every Olympic Games, there are hundreds of events packed into more than two weeks of action.

You can view a full schedule for every event here.

Australia’s Dean Hewitt competes during the Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

How can I watch?

The 2022 Beijing Games will be broadcast in Australia exclusively by Channel 7 and streamed on 7 Plus.

You can stream all the action for free on the 7 Plus website or on the app via your Smart TV, mobile or tablet.

Who’s on the commentary team?

Hamish McLachlan and Abbey Gelmi will lead Channel 7’s commentary team alongside Johanna Griggs, Matt Shirvington, Emma Freedman, Basil Zempilas Georgie Parker, Mel McLaughlin, Jason Richardson, Mark Beretta, Lydia Lassila, Jacqui Cooper, Steven Bradbury, Katya Crema, David Culbert, Scott McGrory, Stephanie Prem, Michelle Steele and Jono BrauerMia Rennie, Ryan Tiene, Mitch Tomlinson, Luke Kneller, Michael Kennedy, Dirk Nannes, Steve Hewitt, Alister Nicholson and Matt Hill.

What are the events?

Most of the events in the Winter Olympics are understandably foreign to most casual Australian sporting fans.

There are 15 disciplines with 109 gold medals up for grabs at the Beijing Games – alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, nordic combined, short-speed skating, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboarding and speed skating.

Who’s on the Australian team?

Australia is sending its third-largest Winter Olympics contingent in history to Beijing, with 43 members and 19 debutants — 22 women and 21 men.

The Aussies will compete in 10 different disciplines, with ages ranging from 16 to 33.
“If we win one medal that’s good. Two medals, very good. Three medals, very, very good,” Australian team chef de mission Geoff Lipshut said on Tuesday.

“Four medals, we’ve never won four medals, so that would be fantastic.”

You can read about every member of Australia’s Olympic team here.

Australia’s Winter Olympics Medal History

1994 – One bronze

1998 – One bronze

2002 – Two gold

2006 – One gold, one bronze

2010 – Two gold, one silver

2014 – Two silver, one bronze

2018 – Two silver, one bronze

Scotty James of Australia. Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Aussie to watch – Scotty James

Australian snowboarder Scotty James is one of the favourites to return home with a gold medal around his neck.

The 27-year-old is coming into the Winter Olympics with form on his side, having won an X-Games gold medal in Aspen last month.

The Melburnian was Australia’s flag-bearer at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, where he collected bronze in the half-pipe.

But James will be wary of three-time Olympic champion Shaun White, who has returned for his fifth and likely final Olympics.

Since making his Olympic debut in 2006, White has become the world’s most successful and prominent snowboarder.

The 35-year-old has recently suffered a slew of injuries, but he made a confident return in January at the Laax Open snowboard half-pipe in Switzerland, finishing third.

The battle between James and White should be compelling viewing.

Is there a torch relay?

A shortened Winter Olympics torch relay kicked off in Beijing on Wednesday as China’s capital gears up to host the Games against a backdrop of diplomatic boycotts and the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 1000 torchbearers will carry the flame through competition areas in Beijing and the neighbouring city of Zhangjiakou before Friday’s opening ceremony.

Audiences for the torch relay will be strictly limited, with China encouraging people to follow the event online rather than try to catch a glimpse of the procession in person.

Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng lit the torch on Wednesday morning.

With AFP and the New York Post