The country where the coronavirus outbreak emerged two years ago launched a locked-down Winter Olympics on Friday.
BEIJING — hina, which used its first Olympics to amplify its international aspirations, invited the world back Friday — sort of — for the pandemic era’s second Games, this time as an emboldened and more powerful nation whose government’s authoritarian turn provoked some countries’ leaders into staying home.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach addressed assembled athletes: “Dear fellow Olympians: Your Olympic stage is set.” Fourteen years ago, a Beijing opening ceremony that featured massive pyrotechnic displays and thousands of card-flipping performers set a new standard of extravagance to start an Olympics that no host since has matched. It was a fitting start to an event often billed as China’s “coming out.”
In protest of those actions, leaders of the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada, among others, imposed a diplomatic boycott on these Games, shunning appearances alongside Chinese leadership while still allowing their athletes to compete. But China came back with its own symbolic finger in the eye Friday, putting Yilamujiang in the opening night’s most anticipated role.
But politics still elbowed its way into the proceedings. The parade of athletes from Taiwan — the island democracy that China says belongs to it but that competes separately as “Chinese Taipei” — was greeted with a cheer from the crowd, as were the Russian competitors. An overcoated Putin stood and waved at the delegation, nodding crisply as they marched.
And China is pinning its hopes on Eileen Gu, the 18-year-old, American-born freestyle skier who has chosen to compete for her mother’s native country and could win three gold medals.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Here's a Guide to Figure Skating at the 2022 Winter OlympicsFigure skating takes center stage at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Here’s what you need to know about how it works.
Weiterlesen »
2022 Winter Olympics are First Games to Rely Solely on Artificial SnowThe 2022 Winter Olympics are the first Games in history to rely solely on the use of artificial snow.
Weiterlesen »
Team USA Flag-Bearers Revealed for 2022 Winter Olympics🇺🇸 Learn about the remarkable journeys that led to speed skater Brittany Bowe and curler John Shuster being named as TeamUSA flag-bearers at the 2022 Beijing WinterOlympics.
Weiterlesen »
Robots Drop Meals From Ceiling at 2022 Winter Olympics in BeijingBeijing’s meal operations are right out of a sci-fi movie. Robots hang from the ceiling, replacing human servers, to avoid person-to-person contact during the 2022 Winter Games.
Weiterlesen »
Which Team USA Athletes Are Expected to Win Gold at 2022 Winter Olympics?From returning champions to Olympic veterans, these Team USA competitors will be in the mix for gold medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Weiterlesen »