Winter Games 2022: International press review of the opening ceremony

press reviews

Hardly any edition of the Olympic Games was criticized as much as the one in Beijing. Dealing with the Uyghur minority, censorship, human rights violations and last but not least the corona pandemic – there were many reasons to cancel, postpone or boycott the Winter Games.

But now the Olympics have started. The obligatory opening ceremony was – how could it be otherwise – a demonstration of power by China. Russian President Vladimir Putin also took a seat in the grandstand. Against the background of the Ukraine crisis, a clear sign of fraternization against the West – at least that’s how many media interpreted the appearance. This is what the international press says about the Olympic opening ceremony:

Great Britain:

“The Independent”: “Set before a half-full Bird’s Nest, it was not without charm and character, with a Last Night of the Proms soundtrack, though the words ‘Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free’ have never seemed so out of place.”

“Guardians”: “When the two-hour show reached its spectacular conclusion and two young athletes united to light the Olympic flame, things hit a snag. One of them performing the symbolic act was Chinese cross-country skier Dinigeer Yilamujiang, who is of Uyghur descent. To it To put it mildly, it was a highly provocative act.”

Italy:

“La Republica”: “Beijing opens the power games. IOC President Thomas Bach quotes John Lennon at the opening ceremony – before the eyes of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin and against the background of the Ukraine crisis. The tradition, the splendor and the cold. Not just climatic ( minus 6 degrees), but above all politically.”

“Corriere della Sera”: “In Beijing, the games of tension begin. The teams run into the bird’s nest, accompanied by cold, robots and in an anti-virus bubble. (…) Beijing is the first city in the world to host both summer and is also from the Winter Games. But the Games of 14 years ago were a very different spectacle in a different world. The Olympic bubble is made up of bans, controls, searches, strict medical protocols and closed doors.”

“La Stampa”: “Olympics as a show by Xi. The 2022 Games will be turned into propaganda by communist China. From Putin to Al-Sisi to Bin Salman – it’s a catwalk for the autocrats. Every Olympic Games is political. (…) But the Winter Games, in a city without snowy mountains, come at the same time that Chinese President Xi Jinping wants the Communist Party Congress to extend the rulership limits in order to win a third term and thus absolute power.”

France:

“L’Equipe”: “Beijing 2022 opened its games with an atmospheric ceremony and a mix that celebrates winter and celebrates spring. Hoping that the climate of these games will warm up a bit?”

“Before the eyes of President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who is at the head of a country stripped of its flag at games because of past frauds, the audience only comes out when the Chinese delegation marches in. “

“Le Monde”: “After a little over two hours, the ceremony drew to a close as the flame kissed the sky over Beijing in a giant snowflake.”

“Le Parisian”: “A snowflake for the flame and a shirtless flag bearer, that’s what you have to remember from the opening ceremony.”

USA:

“U.S. Today”: “Unfortunately, China continues its political charade at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics.”

Austria:

“The standard”: “The artistic parts of the ceremony were devoted to China’s agriculture, the uniqueness of the snowflake, and so on. It was certainly demonstrated: China has money, China has technology, China has endless extras.”