The XXIV Winter Olympic Games have officially started in Beijing, the capital of China.
The opening ceremony lasted 100 minutes. It was attended by about 3,000 artists, 95% of whom are teenagers.
The director of the large-scale performance is Zhang Yimou — he led the opening ceremony in 2008. But then, 14 years ago, more than 15,000 people were able to see the performance, CNN reports.
After a bright show with fireworks and fireworks, as well as after a grandiose performance by thousands of artists, the traditional parade of athletes of the participating countries began.
Representatives of Greece were the first to enter the arena of the national sports complex in Beijing. The largest delegation was the American one.
Earlier, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Germany, Australia and other countries announced a diplomatic boycott of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games-2022. This is due to the violation of human rights in China, including the treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang Province and other national minorities.
Now the Winter Olympics-2022 is perhaps the most interesting topic — every country that takes part in the Games will follow the events. ICTV facts looked at how Western media cover the most important sports competitions in the world.
Pandemic Olympic Games in China begin with quarantine and boycott — Associated Press
But despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many other world leaders attended the opening ceremony. For example, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who met with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping alone earlier today.
For Beijing, these Olympic Games are a confirmation of its status as a world player and power. But for many outside of China, especially in the West, they have become a confirmation of the country’s increasingly authoritarian turn.
The Chinese authorities are suppressing the pro-democratic activity of their population, tightening control over Hong Kong, becoming more confrontational with Taiwan.
In the shadow of these political problems, China has staged its own show. When Xi took his seat, the actors turned to him and bowed several times. They simultaneously applauded, raised their pom-poms and waved them in the direction of their president — the most powerful leader of China since Mao Zedong. A flurry of fireworks, including those with the inscription Spring, heralded the approach of the holiday, writes the Associated Press.
As for the coronavirus pandemic, due to which almost 6 million people died in the world, the host country itself claims the lowest mortality and morbidity rates. This is partly due to strict restrictions imposed by the government aimed at quickly suppressing any outbreaks.
FBI urges athletes to leave their phones at home – CNN
The American TV channel notes that the FBI is urging Olympic athletes to leave their personal mobile phones at home and take disposable phones to Beijing instead. This warning is related to the possibility of malicious cyberactivity.
Without specifically talking about any cyber threats against the Olympics, the FBI added that it is important that those participating in the Games be vigilant.
As for the American Olympians, according to media reports, there were a record number of them at the opening ceremony — 177 athletes.
Uighur athlete lit the Olympic flame bowl — The Washington Post
One of the two Chinese athletes who lit the Olympic flame bowl on Friday was skier Dinigir Yilamujiang, an ethnic Uighur from Xianjiang.
Official Beijing is accused of human rights violations against the Uighur population. It is for this reason that diplomats from many countries boycotted the opening ceremony of the 2022 Games.
The choice of Yilamujiang as a torchbearer served as a political message from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who sat next to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach during the show.
