Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Opening Ceremony

Winter Olympics Beijing 2022

Live coverage as the 24th Winter Olympic Games officially begin with the lighting of the flame in the opening ceremony at the Beijing International Stadium, also known as the Bird鈥檚 Nest.

Live coverage as the 24th Winter Olympic Games officially begin with the lighting of the flame in the opening ceremony at the Beijing International Stadium, also known as the Bird鈥檚 Nest. It鈥檚 been a road fraught with pandemic and political problems, but organisers are hoping the spotlight will now switch to the sports themselves, with seven new events among a record 109 gold medals to be won.

Covid-19 protocols and diplomatic boycotts due to alleged human rights abuses mean it will be a low-key ceremony, which is being overseen by Oscar-nominated film director Zhang Yimou, who was also behind the opening and closing ceremonies for the summer Olympics. In hosting these Games, China becomes the first nation to stage both a summer and winter Olympics.

Commentary comes from John Hunt and Gigi Salmon.

3 hours

Last on

Fri 4 Feb 2022 21:30
Red Button One

More episodes

Previous

Curling & Figure SkatingBeijing 2022

Next

Opening Ceremony: Today at the GamesBeijing 2022

See all episodes from Winter Olympics

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Florence + The Machine

    Seven Devils

  • 00:22

    Portugal. The Man

    Feel It Still

  • 00:53

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    The Nutcracker: March

  • 01:28

    White Orchestra

    The Nutcracker - Dance of The Mirlitons

  • 01:44

    Nickelback

    Toreador's Song

  • 01:44

    Alfred Scholz, London Festival Orchestra

    Hungarian Dance No. 5 In G Minor

Broadcasts

Featured in...

Get the latest Winter Olympics news from the 大象传媒 Sport site

Analysis, insight, news and highlights from PyeongChang 2018.