The atmosphere is festive in China a few days before the opening of the Winter Olympics and on the date of the start of the Lunar New Year holidays.
During a program celebrating the Lunar New Year, Chinese state television broadcast greetings from International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach after a program that featured the Olympic and Paralympic mascots.
Skyscrapers in the Chinese cities of Chongqing and Qingdao displayed the Beijing 2022 Olympics motto, “Together for a Shared Future”. The Olympic and Paralympic mascots as well as the logos were illuminated, in a festive atmosphere.
However, the Chinese government is on high alert over coronavirus infections, just three days before the opening of the Olympics.
Beijing reported its first case of the Omicron variant on January 15. Sporadic infections of the Delta and Omicron variants have been confirmed since then, more than 100 in all.
In this system, people at the Games are completely restricted outside of designated Olympics arenas. The streets of Beijing, which is out of reach for athletes and other Games personnel, were decorated with Chinese red lanterns and other traditional symbols for the holiday.
Celebrations of Lunar New Year 2022