Opening Ceremony

Live coverage as the 24th Winter Olympic Games officially begin with the lighting of the flame in the opening ceremony at the Beijing International Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest. It’s been a road fraught with pandemic and political problems, but organisers are hoping the spotlight will now switch to the sports themselves, with seven new events among a record 109 gold medals to be won.

Covid-19 protocols and diplomatic boycotts due to alleged human rights abuses mean it will be a low-key ceremony, which is being overseen by Oscar-nominated film director Zhang Yimou, who was also behind the opening and closing ceremonies for the summer Olympics. In hosting these Games, China becomes the first nation to stage both a summer and winter Olympics.

Commentary comes from John Hunt and Gigi Salmon.