• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us

For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Sport

Beijing lights flame, to be first city to host summer and winter games

20 October 2021, 8:04 AM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
The Olympic flame burns in a cauldron at the ceremony to welcome the flame for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing, China October 20, 2021.

The Olympic flame burns in a cauldron at the ceremony to welcome the flame for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing, China October 20, 2021.

Image: Reuters

The Olympic flame burns in a cauldron at the ceremony to welcome the flame for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing, China October 20, 2021.

China lit its Olympic flame in Beijing on Wednesday after the ceremonial torch arrived from Athens, ahead of the Chinese capital’s hosting of the 2022 Winter Games in February.

The Winter Games will be held from February 4 to February 20, when Beijing will become the first city to host both the summer and winter Olympics, amid a COVID-19 pandemic that means overseas spectators will be excluded.

At a welcome ceremony held near the National Stadium, shaped like a bird’s nest and built for the 2008 Summer Games, Beijing Communist Party chief Cai Qi lit a cauldron to symbolise the arrival of the Olympic flame in China.

The flame had left Athens on October 19 and travelled to Beijing in a red lantern designed in the likeness of a Han Dynasty tomb artifact, carried by torchbearers decked in white.

China will display the Olympic flame at Beijing’s Olympic Park from Wednesday. In early February next year, 1,200 torchbearers will carry the flame through the three cities of Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou, which are the competition venues.

The torch relay route has been “appropriately reduced” due to the need to guard against the spread of COVID-19, said Beijing Vice Mayor Zhang Jiandong at the ceremony.

The ceremony went off without a hitch on Wednesday in Beijing, where, like elsewhere in China, security is usually tight.

At a ceremony in Athens on October 18 to hand over the flame to China, three protesters unfurled a banner reading “No Genocide Games” and waved a Tibetan flag.

Rights groups have called for a boycott of the Beijing games to protest against what they termed as human rights atrocities in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong. China has rejected those claims.

Greece’s Olympic Committee (HOC) said it was disappointed the Athens ceremony had been used for political purposes.

Share article
Tags: BeijingOlympic FlameChina
Previous Post

Nathaniel Julies’ murder trial continues

Next Post

Global ‘Squid Game’ mania lifts Netflix quarter

Related Posts

World number one Daniil Medvedev.

Medvedev grinds down Shapovalov in Cincinnati

19 August 2022, 4:40 AM
Former Al Ahly Coach Pitso Mosimane

Mosimane awarded prestigious CAF Pro licence

18 August 2022, 7:09 PM
A soccer ball inside a goal net

Chiefs eager to catch up with early pacesetters before it’s too late

18 August 2022, 3:33 PM
The tournaments official logo seen on a wall, 31 March, 2022

FIFA sells 2.45 million tickets for Qatar World Cup

18 August 2022, 3:17 PM
File Photo: South Africa's Kagiso Rabada appeals successfully for the wicket of India's Cheteshwar Pujara in the Second Test between South Africa and India at Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa on January 5, 2022.

Rabada takes five wickets as Proteas bowl England out for 165

18 August 2022, 1:56 PM
Coach Dave Rennie welcomed back reinforcements to his 35-man squad after a horror run of injuries this season.

Foley named in Wallabies squad, O’Connor axed

18 August 2022, 10:25 AM
Next Post
The Netflix series "Squid Game" is played on a mobile phone in this picture illustration taken September 30, 2021

Global ‘Squid Game’ mania lifts Netflix quarter

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • EMS says fire at Bree Street Taxi Rank in Johannesburg has been extinguished
  • The public has until 18 May to make submissions on Icasa’s regulations for extension of expiry period for data, airtime
  • ANC NEC expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday
  • Eastern Cape flood victims plead for support as access to food, services remains difficult
  • Amathole Regional Secretary elated to have corruption charges against him dropped
  • Elon Musk says he is buying Manchester United
  • Pick n Pay launches new supermarket brand
  • Public has two weeks to make comments on proposed changes to pension funds
  • Home Affairs tightens rules on passport application to curb corruption
  • 14-year-old Eastern Cape learner facing arm amputation after allegedly taking COVID-19 vaccine
  • Home Affairs clamps down on passport fraud and introduces transit visas
  • Mogalakwena Municipality in Limpopo directed to terminate appointment of more than 400 workers
  • Elon Musk says he is buying Manchester United
  • Pick n Pay launches new supermarket brand
  • Public has two weeks to make comments on proposed changes to pension funds

LATEST

Test tubes labelled "Monkeypox virus positive" are seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022.
  • Monkeypox Outbreak
  • Sci-tech

Health Ministry to give an update on SA’s Monkeypox response


Members of the DA are seen with a billboard written #CeleMustGo at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on 18 August 2022.
  • Politics

DA intensifies efforts to remove Police Minister from office under #CeleMustGo campaign


Deputy President David Mabuza speaks in Parliament.
  • Politics

Presidency will announce its response to the State capture report in October: Mabuza


[File Image] 31-year-old Fees Must Fall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile sitting in court.
  • South Africa

Bonginkosi Khanyile’s civil unrest case back in court


Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, who pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault of acclaimed author Salman Rushdie, appears in booking photographs at Chautauqua County Jail in Mayville, New York, US August 12, 2022.
  • World

Salman Rushdie attack suspect pleads not guilty to attempted murder, assault


The dollar index rose 0.121% to 107.620, after earlier touching 107.68, its highest since July 18.
  • Business

Dollar hits 1-month high as Fed officials talk up rate hikes


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Nathaniel Julies’ murder trial continues
Next Global ‘Squid Game’ mania lifts Netflix quarter