Great Britain
The Telegraph: “Bye and goodbye to the most miserable Olympics of all. China, the Uyghurs, Valiyeva and Putin – what should have been a glorious tapestry of winter sports was just a string of scandals.”
The Guardians: “The Winter Games were absurd, disturbing and often extraordinary. In the end, Thomas Bach gave an extraordinarily optimistic assessment. Because Beijing 2022 was extraordinary, both for better and for worse.”
The Independent: “These Winter Games will be remembered, but not for the right reasons. From politics and human rights to doping and Corona – Beijing 2022 leaves a sour taste in my mouth.”
USA
New York Times: “With the Closing Ceremony, China celebrates a joyless triumph. Beijing 2022 was constrained by the pandemic, fraught with geopolitical tensions, once again tainted by doping allegations and overshadowed by the crisis in Ukraine. China has, despite everything, stuck to schedule at the most contentious games in years . This is a success because at least one complete disaster was avoided.”
Washington Post: “The Olympic Games end without deviating from China’s carefully executed script. Sporting and technical excellence were paired with information control and the rejection of criticism. The Communist Party may be happy with the result, but those who had hoped that the major event could go to China leading to a more open and less repressive attitude has little cause for celebration.”
USAToday: “The weirdest, most controversial, most dismissive Olympics of our time are over – closed off from the outside world and riddled with questions about human rights abuses. It’s been a bizarre 17 days. We’ve never seen anything like it. The games will be counted as a success just because they weren’t failed miserably.”
Italy
Gazzetta dello Sport: “Ciao Olympia, Italy is waiting for you! The 2026 Italian Winter Games will certainly have more soul than those in Beijing, which lacked Olympic enthusiasm.”
La Stampa: “Beijing, farewell. We need a real mountain landscape again for the next Winter Games. Since Vancouver 2010, the Winter Olympics have been taking place on snowy slopes in locations that were invented for the future. In four years we will finally see Winter Games in a real mountain area again .”
Corriere della Sera: “Beijing brought a unique winter games to a close, with perfect organization. Now it’s up to Italy to prepare as well for Milan/Cortina 2026. The Olympic flag is now in the hands of the mayors of Milan and Cortina.”
La Republica: “From Beijing to Cortina: Italy is looking for new heroes, for the champions of tomorrow. Beijing is already in the past, the future is called Milan/Cortina.”
Switzerland
The New Zurich Times: “The 17-day frenzy is over. The Olympic Games have been a product of success for decades. But in Beijing over the past two weeks, in and around the competition venues, it has become obvious that there is a lot going on around the Games. They are battered like never before the height of the Cold War. Reform is imperative.”
Austria
Courier: “China is celebrating, but sport has to mourn. With the Winter Games, the country has finally risen to become a major power in world sports. But the Olympic spirit has finally evaporated. The IOC is staying true to its line. The embarrassing phrase about ‘the best games of all time’ Thomas Bach bit back when the Olympic flame went out in Beijing on Sunday.