The Winter Games will be held in China for the first time with Beijing set to be the first city to host the Winter and Summer Olympics. South Korea hosted the Games in Pyeongchang in 2018 and Russia in Sochi in 2014.
Where Can I Watch?
The Olympics will be televised on NBC and can also be watched on NBC’s Peacock app. This is indeed an historic moment for the company as it gets to broadcast both the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and the 2022 Super Bowl LVI in the same month.
The opening ceremonies will begin on Friday, February 4, so do not forget to stay tuned and you can also visit our website for periodic updates and announcements. Also, medals will start to be awarded in various feats and competitions on Saturday, February 5.
The U.S. Team will feature on its roster previous medalists which will include Shaun White, Mikaela Shiffrin, Nathan Chen, Hilary Knight, Chloe Kim and others.
Lindsey Jacobellis wins the U.S. its first gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics
How many countries are competing?
In the line up are 91 countries and almost 2,900 athletes competing in 110 events in seven sports during the Games. Some countries are fully represented by their diplomatic envoys while others with known issues with the Chinese government like Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Lithuania, Taiwan, and the U.S. chose to engage in diplomatic boycotts at this time.
Coronavirus
With the epidemic still center stage and at the forefront of the Games, China is discharging very strict policies regarding the virus in hopes of stopping any kind of super spreader events.
If you must attend the Olympics in any capacity – athletes, team staff or personnel and media outlets – you must be fully vaccinated and able to present two negative tests before arriving in China and will also be subject to additional testing at the airport upon arrival.
During the Games, be prepared to receive daily throat swabs for PCR tests to be received within a day. If, by any chance, you test positive for the virus, you are required to go directly to the hospital. If you are asymptomatic, you will be placed in a designated hotel in quarantine except for those with insignificant level or traces of the virus, they will be allowed a shorter isolation period.
Either way, the athlete cannot participate until symptoms-free and cleared for discharge. After which the individual would need multiple negative tests.
Audience Rules
There are rules for spectators and fans as well. Limited attendance is expected for those at the Beijing Olympics. Ticket purchases are limited to “selected” number of spectators from mainland China and not the general public due to coronavirus concerns.
If you are attending as a fan to cheer your favorite team or athlete, you are required to clap instead of chanting and cheering. Sound familiar? Tokyo organizers did exactly the same at the Summer Olympics.
The fact that one of the two flag bearers for Team USA; Olympic bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor will not be attending Friday’s opening ceremonies because she tested positive to Covid-19 virus and will be replaced by speed skater Brittany Bowe is a case in point.
