Feature Story
It's that time again — time to light the torch and pit nation against nation in a friendly battle of strength and skill. The 2022 Winter Olympics are being hosted in China this year, with the opening ceremony airing once more from the National Stadium in Beijing. NBC brings live coverage to viewers, beginning with the opening ceremony on Friday, Feb. 4.
Not only is the National Stadium the only venue to hold both the summer and winter Olympics opening ceremonies, but this year's festivities are being directed by famed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou (“Hero,” 2002). Yimou has experience in this field already, as he directed the opening ceremony for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Now 71 years old, the acclaimed filmmaker recently revealed his intention to weave the impact of the pandemic into this year's ceremony.
“In the wake of the pandemic, the world needs a new and strengthened vision,” Yimou said. “That is, people of the world come together to face difficulties and look forward to a bright future.”
With a theme focusing on that “bright future,” it seems only fitting to look at the bright future of two U.S. athletes competing in some of the first events to follow the opening ceremony: Paul Schommer and Becca Hamilton.
Schommer, who has qualified for his first Olympic Games this year, is competing as part of the U.S. Biathlon team. He earned his spot by finishing with a personal best of 22nd place in the men's 20-kilometer individual event on Nov. 27 in Östersund, Sweden. His Olympic debut will be an exciting follow-up to what's sure to be a spectacular ceremony.
Meanwhile, second-time Olympian Becca Hamilton is competing in the women's curling team and the mixed doubles events. Hamilton qualified for the Olympic Games alongside her brother, Matt Hamilton, this year — he's to compete in the men's curling team and the mixed doubles events.
After what has been a challenging couple of years for the entire world, it will be nice to kick start the games by witnessing athletes proudly represent their countries and make a permanent mark on their sport.
The opening ceremony has evolved throughout many Olympic Games — both summer and winter — sifting through eras, cultures and social change to become the perfect blend of tradition and festivity. While there is always an expectation to continue the rituals that have been performed over several decades, it's important to remember that, first and foremost, the Olympics are a celebration. As director, Yimou gets the chance to represent the voice of the hosting country (also his home country), before seeing it delivered to viewers around the world.
We've become accustomed to the world (and sporting events) looking quite different in the past few years, and the 2022 Olympics will be no exception.
While there are many things that set this time-honored competition apart, the Olympic opening ceremony is like nothing you'll see at any other sporting event.
Commonly referred to as the Bird's Nest, the National Stadium boasts the world's largest steel structure as its outer shell, making it a complex and stunning venue to host this special event.
Yimou has also promised other “unprecedented” changes to this year's kickoff, and he particularly noted a shift in the manner in which the torch is lit — certainly not a moment to miss.
The pandemic has made a remarkable impact on nearly all athletics since March 2020, leaving athletes and entire sports unsure of their ability to participate in everything from regular-season games to Olympic events.
The NHL Players' Association recently pulled its name from the list due to the high number of COVIDcanceled games. And the U.S. figure skating team currently includes two skaters who have tested positive for the virus. This close to the Games, every positive test comes with the risk of being denied entry by the Chinese government.
There are, of course, precautions and changes that have been made to keep everyone safe under the current conditions, chief among which are that this year's ceremony will last no longer than 100 minutes and will feature around 3,000 performers (a staggering difference from the summer of 2008 in Beijing when the opening ceremony included approximately 15,000 performers and athletes).