Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Anyone else here watching any of the 2022 Winter Olympics?  The opening ceremonies are currently on.

PD

[MusicTurner]

I'll be watching a bit at times, there's not much work right now. Apparently they used snow cannons also to cover the landscapes generally and provide better, surrounding winter scenery.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I'll be watching a bit at times, there's not much work right now. Apparently they used snow cannons also to cover the landscapes generally and provide better, surrounding winter scenery.

I had heard something about, I believe, about not enough snow for certain events, so they had to create some more?

Must admit, I feel for those countries that only have one athlete representing them....pressure?  What pressure to win a medal?!

Caught a bit of pairs free skating/dancing yesterday (not certain exactly it was called).  I suppose that I should check the schedules.

Loved the beginning of the opening ceremonies when 400 dancers were using huge LED glow sticks to create a spring scene with a willow--beautiful!

Any favorite sports that you would like to watch MT?

PD

[MusicTurner]

I had heard something about, I believe, about not enough snow for certain events, so they had to create some more?

Must admit, I feel for those countries that only have one athlete representing them....pressure?  What pressure to win a medal?!

Caught a bit of pairs free skating/dancing yesterday (not certain exactly it was called).  I suppose that I should check the schedules.

Loved the beginning of the opening ceremonies when 400 dancers were using huge LED glow sticks to create a spring scene with a willow--beautiful!

Any favorite sports that you would like to watch MT?

PD

There's a Swedish newspaper showing how they also snow-cover surrounding hills simply for prettifying them. I just saw a glimpse from the ceremony, with a skier from Haiti marching in!

One of the IOC arguments for China having the Olympics was that China is currently not very big in winter sports, but would have huge potential ...

I might watch it a bit randomly, maybe some skiing; Denmark isn't really competitive, but the ice hockey and curling (!) teams can perhaps deliver a surprise or two ... I did a little bit of skiing as a child ... did you ever do any winter-related sports, PD?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

There's a Swedish newspaper showing how they also snow-cover surrounding hills simply for prettifying them. I just saw a glimpse from the ceremony, with a skier from Haiti marching in!

One of the IOC arguments for China having the Olympics was that China is currently not very big in winter sports, but would have huge potential ...

I might watch it a bit randomly, maybe some skiing; Denmark isn't really competitive, but the ice hockey and curling (!) teams can perhaps deliver a surprise or two ... I did a little bit of skiing as a child ... did you ever  do any winter-related sports, PD?

I took some skating lessons and a couple of skiing lessons.  I'd like to get some new cross country skis.

Must admit:  hockey and curling are two of my least favorite ice sports to watch--sorry!  I've enjoyed watching figure skating events, various downhill skiing and jumping ones, snowboarding on occasion, cross country events.  Learning about the athletes' stories, the trials and tribulations for teams to get funding, learning more about the host country (food, culture, etc.), etc., are some of the most special things about the Olympics I think--to me anyway. 

PD

[MusicTurner]

Oh yes, snowboard would be fun watching too! And if anyone complained that curling is decidedly un-spectacular, I'd agree without hesitation ... Hopefully they'll show a bit of cultural & travel-related, informative documentaries from China's various regions. In spite of politics, it would also be interesting to go there at least once.

[Jo498]

For some reason although the 1984 winter olympics (Sarajevo) were one of the first major sports events I remember watching as a kid (the very first one I really followed was the 1982 soccer world cup in Spain), I never really got into winter sports and don't think I ever watched much of them, especially not after the early 90s when they changed the rhythm. And I cared even less for the spectacles of the openings/closings (unlike my late father).

[Pohjolas Daughter]

For some reason although the 1984 winter olympics (Sarajevo) were one of the first major sports events I remember watching as a kid (the very first one I really followed was the 1982 soccer world cup in Spain), I never really got into winter sports and don't think I ever watched much of them, especially not after the early 90s when they changed the rhythm. And I cared even less for the spectacles of the openings/closings (unlike my late father).

What did they change in the early 1990's?

PD

[Jo498]

Winter olympics 2 years before Summer olympics since 1994.
It's irrelevant and might have got the Winter games even more screen time, but I think before that the Olympics dominated the respective year of sports for me as a TV watcher and somehow the Winter games lost my attention because of the new schedule.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Winter olympics 2 years before Summer olympics since 1994.
It's irrelevant and might have got the Winter games even more screen time, but I think before that the Olympics dominated the respective year of sports for me as a TV watcher and somehow the Winter games lost my attention because of the new schedule.

Ah, I had forgotten about that.  Thanks.

PD

[Brahmsian]

Any favorite sports that you would like to watch MT?

PD

I know you aren't asking me, but my number one interest is in curling. My favourite sport to watch and play.

I am from the province of Manitoba, where it is the Mecca of curling in the world. 

I grew up in a very small town of < 50 people and even our town had a three sheet curling rink, and it still does.

Other events I am really looking forward to watching are short track speed skating, snowboarding races and hockey.

[Brahmsian]

I'm also not ashamed to admit that I might be the only curling fan on GMG. 

[Brahmsian]

I'm probably also in the minority of vastly preferring the winter Olympic games over the summer. Growing up in Canada, that is quite common.

[springrite]

I'm also not ashamed to admit that I might be the only curling fan on GMG. 

No you are not!!!

[springrite]

I'm probably also in the minority of vastly preferring the winter Olympic games over the summer. Growing up in Canada, that is quite common.

I am with you.
The problem with the summer olympics is that there are so many events that you are only seeing it jumping from highlights to highlights. In the winter games you actually can follow an event all the way through!

[springrite]

I might watch it a bit randomly, maybe some skiing; Denmark isn't really competitive, but the ice hockey and curling (!) teams can perhaps deliver a surprise or two ... I did a little bit of skiing as a child ... did you ever  do any winter-related sports, PD?

I watched the ladies hockey game between China and Denmark.

[Rinaldo]

I'm probably also in the minority of vastly preferring the winter Olympic games over the summer. Growing up in Canada, that is quite common.

Love the winter games – watching the ski jumpers in Calgary is one of my cherished childhood memories and the ice hockey tournament in Nagano is obviously a national highlight for us Czechs (our underdog team won the gold by beating our archnemesis Russia).

I've gradually stopped watching all Olympics though. The IOC has become a farce and I can't bring myself to participate on the sportswashing of regimes I find highly problematic.

[Florestan]

The IOC has become a farce and I can't bring myself to participate on the sportswashing of regimes I find highly problematic.

That's pretty much my position too. One of the most criminal and despicable regimes in the world uses the WO to whitewash themselves, with the disgusting complicity of the IOC. Thanks, but no thanks.

[MusicTurner]

I watched the ladies hockey game between China and Denmark.

Very dramatic it seems - China turned the game upside down and won it during the last few minutes ...

[MusicTurner]

I know you aren't asking me, but my number one interest is in curling. My favourite sport to watch and play.

I am from the province of Manitoba, where it is the Mecca of curling in the world. 

I grew up in a very small town of < 50 people and even our town had a three sheet curling rink, and it still does.

Other events I am really looking forward to watching are short track speed skating, snowboarding races and hockey.

That's a surprise!