Beijing 2022: Together for a Shared Future

The Olympics. That’s what almost everyone is talking about right now. Because on February 4th, just days ago, was the official opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

First, let’s fill in on some facts. The Olympics, a combination of sports events, are organized by the International Olympic Committee, otherwise known as the IOC. There are the Winter and Summer Olympics, one hosting winter sports and one hosting other sports. So far, Beijing, China, is the only city to host both Olympics. Oh, and let’s not forget the mascots!

Let me introduce you to Bing Dwen Dwen, the mascot of the Beijing 2022 Olympics, and Shuey Rhon Rhon, the mascot of the 2022 Winter Paralympics. Bing Dwen Dwen wears a full-body “shell” of ice, resembling an astronaut suit, a tribute to embracing the new technologies for a future with infinite possibilities. “Bing” in Chinese usually refers to “ice.” Shuey Rhon Rhon is a lantern child whose design features traditional Chinese paper cutting. “Shuey” has the same pronunciation as the Chinese character for snow. Don’t you think that both mascots perfectly relate to the Winter Olympics since they host ice and snow events? Oh, and there’s the official motto of the 2022 Winter games: “Together for a Shared Future.” It symbolizes the power of the games to overcome global challenges as a community, which I think is some powerful inspiration.

So let’s fill in on some history, specifically about the winter and summer versions of the Olympics. They weren’t always separate. Compared to the history of the Olympics as a whole, dating back to the Ancient Greeks, the change was recent. The two used to be in the same year, divisible by four. But 1992 brought an end to that, being the last year to host both Olympics. The IOC decided to split the years so that one Olympics would occur every two years. The Summer Olympics waited until 1996, while the Winter Olympics skipped only two years before they got held again to split the timeline. Currently, Summer Olympics only get held on leap years, while the Winter Olympics fall either two years before or after the Summer Games. And don’t get confused. The four-year interval was to respect the ancient origins of the games: Held every four years in Olympia. That interval was named an “Olympiad” and used for counting dates -- Time got counted in Olympiads rather than years.

So what are the events at the Winter Olympics? Here’s the entire list: Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Cross-Country Skiing, Curling, Ice Hockey, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Luge, Nordic Combined, Short Track Speed Skating, Skeleton, Ski Jumping, Snowboard, and Speed Skating. “In my own opinion, how biathlon works is quite fascinating,” says Chief Editor Tigger. “It’s like this combination of skiing and shooting.” The sport means “dual event.” It is rooted in the skiing traditions of Scandinavia, where early inhabitants revered the Norse god Ull, who was both the hunting and skiing god. The combined skills of skiing and rifle marksmanship got first developed by the region’s militaries. In 1767, the first recorded biathlon competition occurred along the Norway-Sweden border between patrol companies, leading to the Olympic sport.

What event do you like most in the Winter Games? Do you participate in a Winter or Summer sport? If you do, be careful, since sometimes, sports can get out of hand. Alright, so that’s the end of this production from the New News Newsminute. Thank you for tagging along on this fascinating journey, and remember to watch the games!