The opening ceremony ran for under 2 hours as opposed to a 4 hour ceremony, which is the usual amount of time. The performers were cut down to just 3,000 – which is a fraction of the number of performers that were at the 2008 Beijing games.
From futuristic sleeping pods to robot bartenders, China is relying on technology to service those in the Beijing 2022 Media Center.
— Bloomberg (@business) February 8, 2022
Check out the Covid-19 virus measures Beijing is implementing at the #WinterOlympics with @rumireports https://t.co/tOqSItfo3c (via @Quicktake) pic.twitter.com/ZG78QJCqyD
Whilst having to be mindful of the cold weather, the pandemic and some political tensions, the country really pulled through with fabulous pageantry, stunning light displays, eye-catching costumes, and extremely precise choreography – making a statement for the opening of this year’s games.
Redemp-CHEN on ice.@nathanwchen x #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/skoy5J7Fvk
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 8, 2022
If you didn’t catch it, here’s what you missed…
Directed by Zhang Yimou, who is best known for his cinematography, spectacular sets of his wuxia martial-arts epics “Hero” and “House of Flying Daggers,” and incredible costuming, this three-time Oscar nominated director’s themes of national pride made him the perfect candidate to direct the 2008 Beijing Olympics – noted as one of the most dazzling shows of all time, and was once again enlisted for this year.
First snow in 2022 for Beijing brings to life both its serenity and vitality.#Beijing2022 pic.twitter.com/R4AEjXUBCt
— Lijian Zhao(@zlj517) January 21, 2022
China is one of the world’s leading pioneers when it comes to technical innovation, and under Yimou’s direction, the opening ceremony made up for its reduced number of participants with a spectacular laser light show alongside huge LED screens and pyrotechnics. Inspired by the beauty of nature, the show’s narrative conveyed a dance imitating the beginning of spring featuring Chinese flowers, plants, willow trees and butterflies.
One of the most noted moments from the performance included light sticks held by the dancers that unfolded into dandelions under fireworks that exploded over them to represent the seeds of the fluffy flower spreading across the ground.
Eileen Gu #Beijing2022 Olympic gold medal winner.
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 8, 2022
Gu, 18, won in the big air competition after landing a third and final run. Follow our live Olympics coverage: https://t.co/P7vzGRo8j8 pic.twitter.com/Uf63Tc02rj
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is a proud moment for China, and the opening ceremony reflected the country’s global ambitions – with the world watching. It is the only country to have a city that has hosted both the winter and summer Olympic games and much of the imagery displayed conveyed China’s rich heritage and diverse culture, as well as a celebration of the recent Chinese New Year.
The reunion we ALL needed: Evgenia Medvedeva, Brian Orser, Tracy Wilson and Jason Brown — together again.
— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) February 9, 2022
It was just as sweet as it looks #Beijing2022 pic.twitter.com/Twue1yTjX5
Of course, every Olympic games has a torch, and for this year’s winter Olympic torch was a floating snowflake. The lighting of the Olympic flame was carried by Uyghur cross-country skier Dinigeer Yilamujiang and Nordic skier Zhao Jiawen, and it was an unexpected move for the torch to be in the shape of a snowflake, that consisted of individual flakes featuring the names of every country competing this year. This also was in line with the Beijing Olympics’ central theme of togetherness. The torch itself featured a red line representing “the winding Great Wall, the skiing courses at the Games, and mankind’s relentless pursuit of light, peace, and excellence,” according to its designer, Li Jianye.
