Shortened Olympic Torch Relay Starts For Beijing Games
Feb 2, 2022, 9:38 AM
BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 2: The Olympic Rings are seen on a rooftop at sunset at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Torch Relay at Shougang Park, which will host freestyle skiing, on February 2, 2022 in Beijing, China. The games are set to open on February 4th. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
BEIJING (AP) — The three-day torch relay for the Beijing Olympics has started with an 80-year-old former speedskater carrying the flame.
The relay has been shortened considerably because of concerns about the coronavirus. Luo Zhihuan ran the first leg. He is the country’s first internationally competitive speedskater.
The torch will be carried through the three Olympics zones.
🔥The Olympic Torch Relay for #Beijing2022 has begun! 🔥
The flame will now travel across three cities on its way to the opening ceremony in the Bird’s Nest on February 4.#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/RTNWzFkszt
— Olympics (@Olympics) February 2, 2022
It will start with downtown Beijing before heading to Yanqing district and finally Zhangjiakou in neighboring Hebei Province.
The Beijing Games have already been impacted on a scale similar to that experienced by Tokyo during last year’s Summer Olympics. China says only selected spectators will be allowed to attend the events.
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
Just a year after Japan’s summer Olympics, the Games are back for a winter show in Beijing, China. The unusually short gap between Games is due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Strict precautions and enforced virus prevention protocol are in place to help keep athletes, coaches and personnel safe.
Beijing is the capital of China, with a population of more than 20 million people and the first city to host both a Summer and Winter Olympic games. It is one of the largest cities in the world and 15 hours ahead of Mountain Time. There are 13 different venues in and around Beijing that will be used for the Winter Olympics. A total of 109 events will be held in 15 different sports, and there will be a lot of Utah locals competing for medals. Keep up to date with them at our Olympic headquarters.
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