The next Olympics are already on the horizon, with Tokyo set to hand the baton to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Games.
The Winter Olympics is usually held around 18 months after the summer one but the coronavirus pandemic has meant its right around the corner.
The 2020 Games in Tokyo had to be postponed by a year following the worldwide lockdown that meant the showpiece event was held this summer.
It was another memorable summer for Team GB, who finished in fourth spot in the medal table with a rather impressive 22 golds.
But attention now turns to the stars of biathlon, bobsledding, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating and skiing hoping for success in China.
Here’s everything you need to know about Beijing 2022…
Beijing Olympics: Dates
The 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday, February 4.
It is yet to be confirmed what time it will start in the UK but fans can expect it to be similar to Tokyo, with Beijing seven hours ahead.
There will then be just over two weeks of sporting competition before the closing ceremony on Sunday, February 20.
Much like the Summer Games – bar the latest version, of course – the snowy spectacle takes place every four years.
So far, 80 countries have qualified to participate in China, including Great Britain, to compete in 109 events across seven sports.
Beijing Olympics: Bidding process
China’s capital was selected as the host city in July 2015, at the 128th IOC Session in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia.
Norway had been considered frontrunners with their proposal to hold the Games in Oslo – boasting more winter medals than any other nation.
But they withdrew due to insufficient funding and left only only Almaty in Kazakhstan as a potential rival to Beijing.
China ultimately prevailed in the final selection process with votes of 44 to 40 to host the country’s first ever Winter Olympics.
Beijing will also become the first city to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics – having hosted the 2008 Games.
It will also mark the fourth Winter Olympics in East Asia – following Sapporo 1972, Nagano 1998 and Pyeongchang 2018.
The 2026 Games will be held in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezz after beating a joint bid from Sweden’s Stockholm and Are.
Beijing Olympics: Venues
As the first city to host both Summer and Winter editions of the Olympics, several venues from the 2008 Games will be reused in 2022.
The key arenas have been divided into three zones, the first of which – Beijing – will primarily stage the ice sports.
The 91,000-capacity National Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies but no sporting competition will take place at the venue.
Other iconic venues from the 2008 Games that will be repurposed for 2022 include the National Aquatics Centre, National Indoor Stadium, and the Wukesong Sports Centre.
The Olympic Village for the Beijing zone of the Games was completed this summer and includes 2,300 beds.
Meanwhile, the alpine skiing events, as well as the sliding events will be held in Yanqing.
And Zhangjiakou will stage the majority of the ski and snowboarding events with a intercity railway transferring guests between all three zones.
Beijing Olympics: Sports
Just seven sports are represented in the Winter Olympics – 26 less than its summer sibling – but there will be a record 109 events.
The sports are split into 15 disciplines:
- Alpine skiing (11 events)
- Biathlon (11 events)
- Bobsleigh (4 events)
- Cross-country skiing (12 events)
- Curling (3 events)
- Figure skating (5 events)
- Freestyle skiing (13 events)
- Ice hockey (2 events)
- Luge (4 events)
- Nordic combined (3 events)
- Short track speed skating (9)
- Skeleton (2 events)
- Ski jumping (5 events)
- Snowboarding (11 events)
- Speed skating (14 events)
Team GB stars who are set to shine in Beijing
Katie Ormerod
The 23-year-old was heavily tipped to win medals in both slopestyle and big air in Pyeongchang. However, she suffered a devasting injury in training and was forced to withdraw. Ormerod will look for redemption in Beijing after enjoying an excellent comeback season last winter.
Gus Kenworthy
The 29-year-old won Olympic silver for Team USA in slopestyle back in 2014 but will compete for GB in February after switching allegiances. Kenworthy has already admitted next year will be his final Games and a podium could be the perfect swansong.
Izzy Atkin
The 23-year-old is a Winter Olympic bronze medallist following her success in the Ski Slopestyle in Pyeongchang 2018. Atkin will hope to be back on the podium in February while her little sister Zoe is fast becoming a star in her own right.
Beijing Olympics: Medal table
The Beijing medal table will follow.
At Pyeongchang 2018, a total of 307 medals were awarded including 103 golds.
Norway topped the charts having scooped 14 gold medals – the same as second placed Germany but boasted eight more podium finishes.
Team GB were represented by 58 athletes at the 2018 games and won five medals in total, ranking 19th in the overall table.
Lizzy Yarnold scooped the only gold in the Skeleton as the first British athlete to retain a Winter Olympic title but she has since retired.
All-time Winter Olympic Games medal table
- Norway: 132 golds, 368 total
- United States: 105 golds, 305 total
- Germany: 92 golds, 240 total
- Austria: 64 golds, 232 total
- Canada: 73 golds, 199 total
- Soviet Union: 78 golds, 194 total
- Sweden: 57 golds, 158 total
- Switzerland: 56 golds, 153 total
- The Netherlands: 45 golds, 130 total
- Russia: 47 golds, 121 total
Beijing Olympics: Can fans attend?
The International Olympic Committee claimed in July 2021 that the Winter Games will need spectators to be successful.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr told Reuters: “We would like to have the international community there.
“We need very successful Games next year in Beijing.
“We really need that success for the sake of everybody… for keeping that light of hope really bright and open.
“We need and we want to have spectators. We want to have the opportunity for everybody to enjoy the hospitality and enjoy the great Chinese offers.”