After 2008, 2022. Beijing becomes Friday, February 4 the first city to organize the Summer and Winter Olympics and thus enter into Olympic history. As in 2008, the astonishing national stadium in Beijing, better known by the nickname “Bird’s Nest”, will be from 8 p.m. (1 p.m. in France) the setting for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games-2022. Like fourteen years ago, this show was conceived by the Chinese director Zhang Yimou, author in 2008 of a breathtaking patriotic and colorful celebration, featuring 14,000 extras, dancers and acrobats, under a profusion of fireworks and special effects.
Unsurprisingly, Zhang Yimou promised a show “completely innovative”while acknowledging that he had to take into account winter temperatures and the threat of epidemics to design his ceremony which should bring together this time 3,000 extras for 1h40 around, including a very large majority of teenagers. As tradition dictates, the 24th Winter Olympics in history will not officially begin until Chinese President Xi Jinping declares them. “open” according to the established formula. “The period is different. Our concept is simple, safe and splendid”, simply unveiled Zhang Yimou. As tradition dictates, the delegations of the participating countries will parade through the stadium, that of France will be led by the two flag bearers Kevin Rolland and Tessa Worley.
Covid and diplomatic tensions
Due to the epidemic, these second Olympic Games under Covid, after those in Tokyo last summer, will find it difficult to be a party. Athletes are confined in a health bubble and subjected to daily screenings. As Beijing observes a zero Covid strategy, no contact is authorized with the population and if the stands at the competition sites will be partially filled, they will be filled by “guests”, who must observe social distancing. This opening ceremony is boycotted by several Western countries, led by the United States, in order to denounce human rights violations in China. But around 20 world leaders, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Vladimir Putin, will attend the event. France will normally be represented later by Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu, from February 11 to 15.