2022 Winter Olympics torch relay

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Beijing 2022 Olympic Torch Relay Emblem.svg
Host city Beijing, China
Countries visitedGreece, China
Torchbearers1,200
ThemeWelcome to the promise of the land of ice and snow and head towards a better future
Start date18 October 2021 (2021-10-18)
End date4 February 2022 (2022-02-04)

The 2022 Winter Olympics torch relay was run from 18 October 2021 until 4 February 2022. After it was lit in Olympia, Greece, the torch traveled to Athens in a car. [1] and was handed to Beijing on 20 October. [2] [3] The Chinese leg ended in Beijing National Stadium, at the end of the opening ceremony. On 20 October 2021, it was announced that the Chinese leg had only three days, following a series of displays of the flame in cities around Beijing. The physical relay started on 2 February, at the morning of the first day of the Chinese New Year as stage 3. Unlike the previous relays (due to health and cost issues), the relay only visited the three venues clusters, the main sights of Beijing and the city of Zhangjiakou. [4] The final torch was lit by long-distance runner Dilnigar Ilhamjan (Dinige'er Yilamujiang) and nordic combined Zhao Jiawen.

Contents

Relay

Activists staged a protest at the Olympic torch lighting ceremony in Greece. [5]

The choice to have Qi Fabao, a People's Liberation Army commander famous for his participation in the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes, be a torchbearer has been controversial with India launching a diplomatic boycott of the games as a result. [6]

Route in Greece

Greece location map.svg
October 18
1. Olympia
October 19
1. Athens

Route in China

Flame display leg (stage 1)

DivisionRouteMap
Beijing
20 October (day 1): Beijing
China Beijing adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
1

Beijing municipal leg (stages 2 and 3)

End of Torch Relay

The cauldron in Yanqing 2022 Winter Olympics cauldron at Yanqing Winter Olympic Cultural Square (20220219134818).jpg
The cauldron in Yanqing

The relay ended after the 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, when the Olympic Cauldron was lit by Altay Uyghur cross-country skier Dilnigar Ilhamjan, and nordic combined Zhao Jiawen.

After the cauldron in the stadium was lit, the three venues clusters' cauldron was lit right after the end of the opening ceremony.

References

  1. Weather, protest, cloud - Beijing flame-lighting rehearsal [ permanent dead link ], washingtonpost.com, Sunday, October 17, 2021,
  2. "The Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Beijing 2022 Games will take place on 18 October 2021". Hellenic Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  3. "2022 Olympic flame to be lit in Greece without spectators". www.china.org.cn. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  4. "北京2022年冬奥会火种欢迎仪式在京举行". Beijing2022.cn. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  5. O'Donnell, Noreen (28 January 2022). "Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kongers Join Together to Protest Beijing Olympics". nbcchicago.com. NBC Chicago. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  6. Ramachandran, Sudha. "India Joins Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 3 February 2022.