Status: 04.02.2022 17:03
The 24th Olympic Winter Games have begun: the Chinese head of state Xi spoke the traditional opening formula. The games are not only taking place under special circumstances because of the pandemic.
Under pandemic conditions, the Winter Olympics have officially started in Beijing. After a two-hour ceremony with shows and fireworks in the “Bird’s Nest” stadium, China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping gave the starting signal with the traditional formula “I declare the XXIV Olympic Winter Games in Beijing open”.
Tamara Anthony, ARD Beijing, at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games in China
tagesschau24 4:00 p.m., 4.2.2022
The Olympic flame was then lit by a Uyghur cross-country skier on the Chinese team, Dinigeer Yilamujiang, along with Nordic combined athlete Zhao Jiawen. The choice of a Uyghur woman for this special role caused a stir. The Chinese leadership has been heavily criticized internationally for its treatment of the Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region.
Together with Nordic combined athlete Zhao Jiawen, Uyghur cross-country skier Dinigeer Yilamujiang lit the fire.
Image: dpa
Beijing is now the first city to host both Winter and Summer Games. The German athletes were led by speed skater Claudia Pechstein and bobsleigh pilot Francesco Friedrich. A total of almost 2,900 athletes from 91 nations will start at the games in Beijing and in the mountains of Zhangjiakou and Yanqing, 200 kilometers away. Medals are awarded in 109 competitions.
Diplomatic boycott by several states
As the highest foreign state guest, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin accepted the invitation of his ally Xi and attended the opening ceremony. Before the start of the Olympics, he had demonstrated unity with Xi on the Ukraine crisis and the growing tensions with the United States.
Most Western countries have refrained from sending top politicians to the opening ceremony. The USA, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and other countries had even announced a diplomatic boycott in protest against human rights violations in China.
Germany had not officially followed this step. Neither Secretary of State Annalena Baerbock nor Secretary of the Interior Nancy Faeser, who is responsible for sports, traveled to Beijing.
Bach avoids criticism
IOC boss Thomas Bach said in his speech: “In our fragile world, in which divisions, conflicts and distrust are constantly increasing, we are showing the world: yes, it is possible to be bitter opponents, while at the same time living together peacefully and respectfully. ” He did not respond to criticism of the host.
Bach had repeatedly emphasized the neutrality of the International Olympic Committee beforehand, thereby avoiding clear statements on the persecution of the Uyghurs and Tibetans, the suppression of the democracy movement in Hong Kong or freedom of expression by China.
In his speech, IOC boss Bach did not address criticism of the hostess.
Image: dpa
Strict rules because of Corona
The games last until February 20th. During the competitions in Beijing, only selected visitors are allowed in the stadiums. No spectators are allowed to come from abroad.
Due to the corona restrictions, all participants – in addition to the athletes, also tens of thousands of employees, volunteers and journalists – are only allowed to stay in an “Olympic bubble” that is shielded from the outside world. Nevertheless, according to the organizers, hundreds of corona cases have already been identified within this “bubble”.
A few hours before the start of the opening ceremony, the German team felt again just how much the Corona issue is determining the Winter Games. According to the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), the Nordic combined athletes Eric Frenzel and Terence Weber had to go into corona quarantine after positive tests. Figure skater Nolan Seegert was the first German athlete to be hit on Wednesday.