Beijing 2022: Olympic torch relay arrives

The torch arrived in the city just before the start of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. It was carried through the streets in front of a few spectators on Wednesday before it is due to light the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony on Friday, February 4th. The torch bearers are mostly people who have made a difference in sports, society, business and politics. Among others, the Chinese speed skater and four-time Olympic champion Wang Meng: “There are some corona-related restrictions at these Olympic Winter Games. We have a total of 1,200 torchbearers, but there are many Olympic champions and world champions in our country. So I think it’s lucky , to be allowed to be a torchbearer.” All athletes are in a so-called bubble because of the corona pandemic. And despite all the safety precautions, shortly before the start of the Winter Games there were over 200 corona infections among the athletes and employees who had traveled there.