Bei
jing Winter Olympics: Interesting Facts You Didn't Know
In 2022, the world's eyes will be on Beijing as it hosts its first Winter Olympics. With 109 events scheduled and over 2,800 athletes from 92 countries, it's set to be one of the biggest sporting events of the year. But, did you know about these interesting facts about the Beijing Winter Olympics?
1) Most southerly Winter Olympics ever held
Beijing is not known for its snowy winters, but it is located at 39 degrees north of the equator - which is the same latitude as Rome. This will make it the most southerly city to ever host a Winter Olympics, which could pose some challenges in terms of ensuring adequate temperatures and snowfall for some disciplines.
2) A lot of new sports added
Beijing 2022 will feature several new sports including ski mountaineering, big air freestyle skiing and mixed team events in short track speed skating, ski jumping and freestyle skiing. It will also see the return of some classics such as Nordic combined, which was absent from the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics.
3) The mascot has a special meaning
The official mascot for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics is a panda named Bing Dwen Dwen. The name means 'icy perseverance' in Chinese, and the black and white color scheme represents China's national treasure, the giant panda.
4) New high-speed rail makes travel easier
Beijing has invested heavily in infrastructure in preparation for the Winter Olympics, and one of the major projects is the new high-speed rail line connecting Beijing and Zhangjiakou, the location of some skiing events. The journey time between the two cities has been cut from three hours to just 47 minutes, making it easier for spectators and athletes to travel between venues.
5) The opening and closing ceremonies will be held in the same stadium
The opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Winter Olympics will be held in the same stadium, the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest. This stadium was built for the 2008 Summer Olympics and will be transformed for the Winter Olympics with a new ice rink and facilities.
6) Beijing is aiming for a low-carbon Olympic Games
In line with China's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Beijing is aiming to hold a low-carbon Olympic Games. This means that the city is implementing measures such as using renewable energy for all competition venues and the Olympic Village, and promoting the use of public transportation and electric vehicles.
7) China wants to boost winter sports enthusiasm
China has set ambitious goals to boost winter sports within the country, including encouraging 300 million people to participate in winter sports by 2022. The Beijing Winter Olympics are seen as a major opportunity to increase enthusiasm for winter sports, and the Chinese government has invested heavily in facilities and training programs to achieve this.
The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are shaping up to be an exciting and unique event, full of interesting facts and initiatives. As we prepare for the world to come together in celebration of winter sports, there's no doubt that Beijing will leave its mark on the Olympic world.
