An Oscar-directed masterpiece was expected as the Winter Olympics Games opening ceremony kicked off in China's capital Beijing – although, technically, the Games already started with the mixed doubles in the curling already underway. The true start of the Winter Olympics, however, began with the Opening Ceremony, directed by Oscar-nominated cinematographer Zhang Yimou.
After a troubled and controversial build-up, the 2022 Winter Olympics are about to get under way with almost 3,000 athletes from 91 nations competing to get their hands on one of 109 gold medals on offer across seven sports.
Although live sport started days before with mixed doubles curling, the opening ceremony took place days later to mark the official start of the 24th Winter Games.
"The world is turning its eyes to China and China is ready,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping. “We will be doing our very best to deliver to the world a streamlined, safe and splendid Games."
Beijing is the first city to host both the summer and winter Games, 14 years after it hosted the 2008 summer Olympics. With protests and diplomatic boycotts over alleged human rights abuses, and the Covid-19 pandemic continues to have an impact with strict control measures in place, these are already controversial Olympics.
