ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
Beijing Winter Olympics

Xi declares Beijing Winter Olympics open, shrugging off boycott

China's chilly ties with U.S. and tight COVID controls loom over festivities

The Olympic flame is placed at the center of a snowflake-shaped lattice bearing the names of participating countries, at the end of the Beijing Games' opening ceremony.   © Reuters

BEIJING -- The Beijing Winter Olympics officially began on Friday, marking an international milestone for China in the shadow of COVID-19 and a U.S.-led diplomatic boycott.

The ceremony was held at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in the capital, with Chinese President Xi Jinping declaring the Games open. Due to the government's strict pandemic controls, only limited invited spectators were in attendance, with the rest of the country and world left to watch the spectacle on TV.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Discover the all new Nikkei Asia app

  • Take your reading anywhere with offline reading functions
  • Never miss a story with breaking news alerts
  • Customize your reading experience

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more