The 2022 Winter Olympics also bring with them some controversy, some potential boycotts and the ongoing restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out what to expect from the2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, as well as why some governments are sitting these Games out—even while their athletes continue to compete.
When do the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics start?
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics officially began on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, with the Opening Ceremonies taking place that night at Beijing’s National Stadium. Beijing is about 12 hours ahead of the U.S’s East Coast, so just like when the 2020 Summer Olympics were held in Tokyo, waking up early—or staying up way late, depending on where you’re located—may be necessary to catch events as they happen live. But don’t worry, as major Olympics events will be rebroadcast in primetime later that same day. A few competitions are getting underway on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 before the Games officially begin.
How to watch the 2022 Winter Olympics on TV or online
Many of the major events and competitions at the 2022 Winter Olympics will be broadcast for free on NBC (as well as rebroadcast during primetime); they’ll also be viewable on the network’s various platforms, including the USA network on cable, NBCOlympics.com, the NBC Sports app and NBC’s streaming service, Peacock. Find out more about how to watch the Beijing Olympics here.
When do the Beijing Winter Olympics end?
The Beijing Winter Olympics are set to conclude on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, which is when the Closing Ceremonies will take place.
Can I get tickets to the Beijing Olympics?
Thanks to the ongoing pandemic, only residents of mainland China who meet requirements for COVID-19 countermeasures are eligible to purchase tickets, according to the official Olympics website.
Where are the Beijing Olympics being held?
The Beijing Winter Olympics are taking place at several different venues in China. The Beijing National Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies; other venues that will host different sporting events include the Olympic Green, the Capital Indoor Stadium and the Beijing Wukesong Sports Center. The Yanqing District in the northern area of Beijing will host events including alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Other skiing events will be held in Zhangjiakou city in China’s Hebei province.
What will happen at the 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony?
Chinese director Zhang Yimou oversaw the opening ceremony for the 2022 Winter Games. He previously directed the 2008 Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, but pared the spectacle down for 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony for 2022, described as “ethereal and romantic” highlights “the beauty of nature, humanity, and sport,” Reutersreported before the ceremony got underway—and the event did not disappoint, with amazing light-show effects, beautiful music, and of course, thousands of thrilled athletes walking into Beijing’s “Bird’s Nest” stadium. But perhaps the best part? A video montage highlighting China’s adorable athletes in training!
When is the Beijing Olympics torch relay and who are the torchbearers?
There will be 1,200 participating torchbearers for the Beijing Olympics torch relay, which began on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, and concluded on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, when the Games officially began.
What sports will be played in the Beijing Olympics?
There will be 109 events—a record for the Winter Olympics—over several different sports. These include:
Alpine skiingBiathlonBobsleddingCross-country skiingCurlingFigure skatingFreestyle skiingIce hockeyLugeNordic combinedShort track speed skatingSki jumpingSnowboardingSpeed skating
What will Team USA wear for the Beijing Olympics?
Team USA is rocking the red, white, and blue in their Beijing Winter Olympics uniforms, which vary by individual sport; however, all of them are made in the USA by Ralph Lauren and most of them are manufactured from recycled materials. The consistent outfit across all sports? Their closing ceremony outfits, which include navy blue and red buffalo plaid puffer jackets (made with recycled polyester), as well as fleece pants for men and fleece leggings for women, also made with some recycled materials. They’ll also sport cozy hats and turtlenecks made from wool produced in the United States. “Ralph Lauren is incredibly proud to outfit Team USA in apparel that has been designed with integrity and purpose. For these Games, the design aesthetic of our uniform represents a modern look that feels distinctly new and fresh, created with sustainability in mind,” David Lauren, Chief Branding and Innovation Officer of Ralph Lauren, told PEOPLE in a statement. “We are highly invested in scaling sustainability solutions that have the potential to significantly reduce our and the wider industry’s impact, and we are proud to have created thoughtful apparel for Team USA that embodies this mission.”
Which U.S. athletes are competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics?
Team USA will send a star-studded group of athletes to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, including the 2018 Winter Olympics fan-favorite Chloe Kim. See the full roster below!
Team USA Alpine Skiing
Breezy Johnson Mikaela Shiffrin
Team USA Biathlon
Jake Brown Sean Doherty Susan Dunklee Clare Egan Paul Schommer
Team USA Cross-Country Skiing
Rosie Brennan Jessie Diggins Julia Kern
Team USA Curling
Becca Hamilton Matt Hamilton John Landsteiner Vicky Persinger Tabitha Peterson Tara Peterson Chris Plys Nina Roth John Shuster Aileen Geving (alternate) Colin Hufman (alternate)
Team USA Figure Skating
Jean-Luc Baker Evan BatesMariah Bell Ashley Cain-Gribble Karen Chen Madison Chock Zachary Donohue Brandon Frazier Kaitlin Hawayek Madison Hubbell Alexa Knierim Timothy LeDuc Alysa Liu
Team USA Freestyle Skiing
Aaron Blunck Hanna Faulhaber Alex Ferreira Mac Forehand Jaelin Kauf Chris Lillis Megan Nick Justin Schoenefeld Brita Sigourney Hannah Soar Colby Stevenson Winter Vinecki David Wise
Team USA Ice Hockey
Cayla Barnes Megan Bozek Hannah Brandt Dani Cameranesi Alex Carpenter Alex Cavallini Jesse Compher Kendall Coyne Schofield Brianna Decker Jincy Dunne Savannah Harmon Caroline Harvey Nicole Hensley Megan Keller Amanda Kessel Hilary Knight Abbey Murphy Kelly Pannek Maddie Rooney Abby Roque Hayley Scamurra Lee Stecklein Grace Zumwinkle
Team USA Luge
Summer Britcher Zack DiGregorio Ashley Farquharson Jonny Gustafson Sean Hollander Emily Sweeney Tucker West
Team USA Nordic Combined
Taylor Fletcher
Team USA Short Track Speed Skating
Maame Biney Andrew Heo Eunice Lee Julie Letai Ryan Pivirotto Kristen Santos Corinne Stoddard
Team USA Ski Jumping
Kevin Bickner
Team USA Snowboarding
Jamie Anderson Nick Baumgartner Chris Corning Red Gerard Taylor Gold Faye Gulini Dusty Henricksen Lindsey Jacobellis Hagen KearneyChloe Kim Hailey Langland Maddie Mastro
Team USA Speed Skating
Brittany Bowe Ethan Cepuran Kimi Goetz Emery Lehman Mia Manganello Kilburg Joey Mantia Jordan Stolz
How many countries are participating in the 2022 Winter Olympics?
A total of 84 countries are expected to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, according to NBC Sports. One notable withdrawal is North Korea, which cited the ongoing COVID-19 crisis as their reason for bowing out—even though the International Olympic Committee previously suspended the country from competing through 2022.
Which countries are boycotting the Beijing Olympics?
China has come under fire worldwide for human rights abuses and crimes against humanity against—and genocide of—Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities, as well as for crushing protests in Hong Kong. President Joe Biden’s press secretary Jen Psakirevealed that the United States would have a diplomatic boycott of the games, meaning Team USA athletes would compete, but no government officials would be in attendance. Other countries have also proposed full or partial diplomatic boycotts, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan. Calls for boycotts of the Beijing Olympics were further raised after Chinese tennis star Peng Shuaiwent missing following accusing a high-ranking member of the Chinese Communist government of sexual assault. She later recanted her allegations in short videos released by Chinese state media, but questions of her condition, whereabouts, and level of freedom still remain.
Are there any changes or new sports added to the Winter Olympics this year?
New events added to the 2022 Winter Olympics include men’s and women’s big air freestyle; women’s single person bobsled; mixed team competitions in freestyle skiing aerials, ski jumping, snowboard cross, and a mixed relay in short track speed skating.
Who is designing the U.S. uniforms for the 2022 Winter Olympics?
Ralph Lauren designed the 2022 Winter Olympics gear for Team USA.
Who is the mascot for the 2022 Winter Olympics?
Bing Dwen Dwen, an adorable panda, is the 2022 Winter Olympics mascot.
When is the next Winter Olympics?
Milan, Italy, will host the next Winter Olympic Games from Feb. 6-Feb. 22, 2026.
When are the Olympics?
The 2022 Winter Olympics kick off on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. In general, the Winter Olympics take place in February every four years, while the Summer Olympics occur from late July to early August every four years. The next Summer Olympics will take place in Paris starting Friday, July 26, 2024, through Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
When did the Olympics start?
The very first summer Olympic Games took place in 1896. The first Winter Olympics took place in 1924. Find out more about the history of the Olympics. Next, find out how much Team USA athletes earn for winning medals at the Olympics.
