The Summer Games in Tokyo are still fresh in our minds or the Winter Olympics are already coming up. In exactly 100 days, on Friday 4 February, they will start in the Chinese capital Beijing. We warm you up with 7 facts.
Scoop: Summer and Winter Games in the same city
Beijing has already hosted the Olympics, you say? Correct. In 2008, the Chinese capital was the setting for the Summer Games.
For the first time in history, a city will also host the Winter Games. An Olympic first that they are quite proud of in China.
Asia is already organizing the Games for the third time in a row: after Pyeongchang 2018 and Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 is next.
Kim Gevaert and the Belgian esfatette team sprint to gold in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Games.
Stadiums from 2008 reused
Most of the stadiums from 2008 are still intact. You will even see them again during the Winter Olympics.
The Water Cube or the swimming stadium has been transformed into the Ice Cube for the curling competitions. The gym and handball hall is the setting for the Olympic ice hockey tournament.
And the imposing Bird’s Nest Stadium will once again serve for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games.
WATCH: Beijing transforms Summer Games accommodations for the Winter Games
3 Olympic clusters in and around Beijing
The competitions of the Winter Olympics take place in 3 areas or 3 clusters:
- Beijing: Olympic Park and Shijingshan District
– opening and closing ceremonies
– curling
– ice hockey
– short track
– speed skating
– figure skating
– snowboarding: big air
– freestyleskiën: big air - Yanqing (west of Beijing)
– downhill skiing
– bobsleeën
– skeleton
– tobogganing - Zhangjiakou (northwest of Beijing)
– biatlon
– cross-country skiing
– snowboarding
– freestyleskiën
– ski jumping
– Nordic combination
Corona rules: only Chinese spectators
Just like in Tokyo, the corona virus hangs like a shadow over the Games in Beijing. That is why athletes, employees and reporters are only allowed to move within the Olympic bubble.
Everyone must undergo a daily corona test. Those who have not been vaccinated must first isolate themselves for 3 weeks.
The athletes do not have to perform in front of empty stands this time. Beijing opens its gates to spectators, but only from China. Foreign supporters have to follow the Winter Games on a screen.
In the audience you will mainly see Chinese flags.
“Controlling the pandemic is our biggest challenge. With our strict rules, we believe we can limit the risks and impact of COVID-19,” said Vice-Chairman Zhang Jiangdong of the organizing committee.
Although the number of new infections in China is relatively small – Beijing registered only 3 positive cases today – the government has taken drastic measures to prevent the spread of the virus. For example, millions of people have been ordered to stay at home, there is massive testing throughout the country and there is hardly any air or train traffic.
“If we don’t succeed in making the Winter Games safe, then the organization has failed,” Zhang said.
With our strict rules, we believe we can limit the risks and influence of COVID-19.
Largest Belgian delegation?
Team Belgium wants to go to the Winter Games in Beijing with about 28 athletes. That would be the largest Belgian delegation ever. In 1936 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, our country had 27 participants, in 2018 22 Belgians stood on the Olympic ice or in the snow.
Most participants won’t know if they’ll be there until a few weeks before the start of the Winter Olympics. The first selection moment takes place around Christmas, the second only in the second half of January.
After her 6th place at the World Cup, Loena Hendrickx is the only one with a ticket in her pocket.
Have a (much) chance:
- Bart Swings: speed skating (silver in 2018 at the mass start)
- Florent Claude: biatlon
- Sebbe De Buck: snowboarding
- Hanne Desmet: short track
- Stijn Desmet: short track track
- Thierry Langer: biatlon
- Armand Marchant: alpineskiën
- Kim Meylemans: skeleton
- Evy Poppe: snowboarding
- Loranne Smans: snowboarding
- Seppe Smits: snowboarding
- An Vannieuwenhuyse: bobsleigh
- Kelly Van Petegem: bobsleigh
- Matthias You: snelschaatsen
The relay teams in the biathlon and short track are also still competing for participation.
Figure skater Loena Hendrickx will do pirouettes in Beijing.
7 new matches
Beijing hosts a total of 109 competitions in 15 disciplines, a record for the Winter Olympics.
7 leagues are new:
- freestyleskiën: aerials
- freestyleskiën: Big Air (m)
- freestyleskiën: Big Air (v)
- short track: mixed teams
- bobsleigh: one person bob (f)
- ski jumping: Nations Cup
- snowboardcross: mixed teams
Ice hockey tournament with NHL stars
Good news for ice hockey fans: the American top league NHL is not planning any games during the Winter Games. The very best players can therefore also be on the ice in Beijing.
We are already looking forward to the actions of Sidney Crosby (Canada), Auston Matthews (United States) or Leon Draisaitl (Germany).
