Beijing Winter Olympics set to open, overshadowed by Covid fears and human rights concerns

France24 says a Winter Olympics overshadowed by rights concerns and taking place inside a strict Covid-secure bubble will officially begin in Beijing on Friday with an opening ceremony at the “Bird’s Nest” stadium.

The distinctive lattice-shaped arena took centre stage at the 2008 Games – seen as China’s coming-out party to the world – and will do so again as Beijing becomes the first city to host both a Summer and Winter Olympics.

Friday’s opening ceremony starts at 8:00pm (1200 GMT) and will be attended by President Xi Jinping, under whose rule China has become a much more belligerent proposition in global affairs compared to 14 years ago.

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20220204-beijing-winter-olympics-set-to-open-overshadowed-by-covid-fears-and-human-rights-concerns