Chinese cross-country skier Dinigeer Yilamujiang and Nordic combined skier Zhao Jiawen lit the Olympic cauldron at the Opening Ceremony on Friday, signifying the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The moment has finally arrived.
Athletes from all over the world have trained for years, overcome countless obstacles and worked together to reach this moment.
The XXIV Olympic Winter Games have been officially declared open! #OpeningCeremony | #Beijing2022 pic.twitter.com/i9BwGwcqia
— Olympics (@Olympics) February 4, 2022
Chinese winter athletes from the past were the torchbearers during the ceremony.
Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the Winter Games open.
The Games are on despite heavy pandemic restrictions in China. Several countries, including Canada, also are staging diplomatic boycotts.
Canada, with 215 athletes, is one of 91 countries competing.
Beijing becomes the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics. It held the Summer Olympics in 2008.
The Opening Ceremony was held in the same Bird’s Nest stadium on Friday.
More to come.
