All You Need To Know About The Winter Olympic Games 2022

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Photograph: Beijing 2022/FacebookAll you need to know about the Winter Olympic Games 2022

Where to tune in, athletes to watch and more you need to know

Thursday 3 February 2022ShareCopy LinkFacebookTwitterPinterestEmailWhatsAppWritten by Cheryl SekkappanEditor, Singapore and AsiaAdvertising

It's Olympic season once again! And barely half a year since the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo wrapped up. This time, we're taking to the ice with the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, kicking off with the opening ceremony on February 4.

Singapore won't be taking part this year – we had a speed skating representative in the 2018 Winter Olympics – but there are still tons of reasons to watch. Catch novel events (for tropical Singapore) like bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, snowboarding and skiing, and cheer for your favourite Asian and international athletes – both of which you can easily do with round-the-clock coverage on local channels.

Hyped up for the Games? Here's all you need to know about the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

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All you need to know

When is the Winter Olympic Games?

The Winter Olympic Games will kick off on February 4 and run through to February 20. The opening ceremony is happening at 8pm this Thursday, but some games will begin ahead of the ceremony on February 3.

Where is it being held?

This year's Winter Olympics Games will be held across three locations in China.

The opening and closing ceremonies, along with four snow events (men's and women's snowboard big air and freestyle skiing big air) and all ice events (curling, ice hockey and ice skating) will be held in central Beijing.

Catch all Alpine skiiing and sliding (bobsleigh, skeleton and luge) events in Yanqing, a suburban district of Beijing.

Meanwhile, the rest of the snow events will take place on the popular ski slopes of Chongli district in Zhangjiakou. Here's where snowboarding, freestyle skiing, cross country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined and biathlon will happen.

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Where can I watch it in Singapore?

Mediacorp has got you covered on this one. As the official media network for the Winter Olympic Games, it will be delivering free coverage across meWATCH, Channel 5, and the Mediacorp YouTube channel. meWATCH in particular will have nine channels dedicated to live coverage of the events, but for quick rundowns and key highlights, you can also head to CNA, CNA938, Today, 8World, Berita and Seithi.

Interested to catch what's likely to be spectacular opening and closing ceremonies at Beijing National Stadium? Tune in to the live broadcast on Channel 5 on February 4, 8pm and February 20, 8pm.

What sports can I look forward to?

Here goes nothing – the 15 sports at the Winter Olympic Games are alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, Nordic combined, short track, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboarding and speed skating.

No Team Singapore? Root for our fellow Asian athletes instead. They include Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu, who will be gunning for his third Olympic gold medal in men's singles figure skating; South Korea's Yun Sung-bin, who's hoping for a repeat of his 2018 Olympic gold medal win in skeleton; and China's Eileen Gu, one of the top favourites across all three styles in the women's freeskiing event. Other international stars to watch are Russia's Kamila Valieva in figure skating, Canada's Marie-Philip Pulin in ice hockey, Netherlands' Ireen Wuest in speed skating and Germany's Francesco Friedrich in bobsled.

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What are the pandemic regulations like?

As you can imagine – very strict. 60,000 competitors, journalists and Chinese workers will be enclosed within a coronavirus bubble or 'closed loop'. This is a ringfenced area comprising the competitive zones, media centres and approved hotels. Those inside are subject to Covid-19 tests everyday, and must wear masks at all times (only athletes can remove them to compete).

Special shuttle buses and approved taxis shuttle people out, and those wishing to enter the closed loop have to complete either 21 days of quarantine, or be fully vaccinated. To top it off, Chinese workers have to complete three full weeks of quarantine after the whole Games are over.

There will be spectators at this year's Winter Olympic Games though, and reports suggest that the stands could be up to 50 percent full. The audience will include both Chinese locals and foreigners living in China.

What's this about fake snow?

Yes, the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing will be held on almost 100 percent fake snow, which is a record for the games. Surprising as that may be. it's actually not uncommon to use fake snow. The first time artificial snow was used was at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid 1980, and its become somewhat of a staple since.

But some are concerned at the almost exclusive use of snow at this Games, which carries significant costs and risks. Reports estimate that generating fake snow will draw an estimated 222 million litres of chemically-treated water, frozen by around 130 snow generators and 300 snow guns. Worrying, considering that Beijing is one of the most water-scarce cities in the world. Extra work will also have to be put in to keep the snow frozen in the city's above-zero temperatures.

Also, artificial snow is made up of 30 percent ice and 70 percent air – a lot icier than real snow (which is 10 percent ice and 90 percent air). What that means? Fake snow is faster and more dangerous, and provides much less cushioning should athletes fall. Ouch.

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