Beijing Winter Olympics: The Closing Ceremony and Five Most Overlooked Highlights

by ruijie

The Beijing Winter Olympics officially closed this Sunday (February 20). After nearly three weeks of competition (February 4-20), the host China has won 9 gold medals and 15 medals, ranking 3rd, with Norway in first place. The British team won a total of one gold and one silver medals.


Beijing has also become the first city in the history of the modern Olympic Games to hold the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.


However, the Beijing Winter Olympics are not without controversy. From the very beginning when the United States and many countries announced a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics, to the lack of snowfall at the venue, the new crown epidemic, and the Hanbok battle, all of these brought huge challenges to the Winter Olympics.


First black woman to win individual gold



US speed skater Erin Jackson makes history by winning gold


American speed skater Erin Jackson won the women’s 500-meter gold medal on February 13, setting a record.


In the last 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Jackson ranked 24th in this event, and his results were not satisfactory.


But at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Jackson crossed the finish line ahead and became the first black woman in Winter Olympics history to win a gold medal in an individual event.


Jackson said after the game, “I hope to have an effect and see more minorities come out to participate in winter sports in the future.”



Erin Jackson becomes first black woman in Winter Olympics history to win individual event gold


The Winter Olympics have not been able to get rid of the problem of underrepresentation of minorities. A study by the news site “Buzzfeed” in 2018 showed that black players accounted for less than 2% of the nearly 3,000 athletes at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.


Same-sex couples compete


Brazilian bobsleigher Nicole Silveira and Belgian bobsleigher Kim Meylemans are a same-sex couple who are also at the Beijing Winter Olympics Compete on the same field.


Although neither of them won any medals in the steel frame snowmobile competition, it did not affect their enjoyment of competing on the field together.


In fact, the number of non-heterosexual athletes at the Beijing Winter Olympics broke the previous record. According to the statistics of the website “Outsports”, which focuses on non-heterosexual athletes, a total of 36 non-heterosexual athletes from 14 countries participated in the competition.



Same-sex couple Nicole Silvera (left) and Kim Melemans compete on the field


As of February 15, non-heterosexual skaters have won two gold medals, including French figure skater Guillaume Cizeron and Dutch speed skater Ireen Wust.


Hanbok Debate


The Beijing Winter Olympics were boycotted by the United States and some other countries before they even took place. Some countries decided not to send officials to participate, causing the Beijing Winter Olympics to fall into a diplomatic turmoil before it even opened.


However, at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, performers wearing traditional Korean costumes appeared as representatives of China’s ethnic minorities, causing dissatisfaction with South Korean officials.


The statement from the Chinese embassy in South Korea stated that it was “their wish and their right” for representatives of various ethnic groups in China to wear traditional costumes at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, while reiterating that the costumes were also part of Chinese culture.



The appearance of the Hanbok at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics sparks dissatisfaction in South Korea


This is not the first time a similar dispute has arisen between China and South Korea, which have argued over the origin of kimchi in the past.


Age is just a number


How old do you think Olympians are? Teenagers in their 20s, or young people in their early 20s? You might want to think again.


German speed skater, 50-year-old Claudia Pechstein (Claudia Pechstein) has participated in the Winter Olympics for the eighth time, although ranking last in the 3000-meter event did not affect her achievements.



Lindsay Jacobelis and Nick Baumgartner win gold in mixed team snowboard slalom


U.S. snowboarders Lindsey Jacobellis and Nick Baumgartner are 76 years old together, and they both held their first Olympic Games in Beijing. Won the gold medal in the snowboard slalom mixed team event.


Baumgartner, 40, is also the oldest medalist in a Winter Olympics snowboard event.


Gulf countries take part in Winter Olympics for the first time


The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is the first time that a player from a Gulf country has participated: Fayik Abdi of Saudi Arabia participated in the alpine skiing competition.


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Saudi Arabia’s Fayq Abdi is the first Gulf player to compete at the Winter Olympics


As a result of the competition, Faik Abdi was ranked 44th, and there were several players behind him who failed to finish the race.


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