OlymPicks: Ticket Rumors Abound, Seven New Events to Debut at Beijing 2022, Saudi Arabia Gears Up for First Winter Games
In OlymPicks, we highlight news, gossip, and developments regarding the buildup to Beijing's 2022 Winter Olympics.
Rumors abound: Are tickets going to be invite-only?
Even with the Olympics a month away, there’s still no word about tickets. In light of this, the rumor mill has kept churning away, with the latest being that either tickets will be given to a select few such as those with the right guanxi, from certain institutions and organizations.
These rumors go a bit further, though, suggesting that people will only be able to attend select events, such as the Opening and Closing ceremonies.
Take it with a grain of salt for now – they’re just rumors! – but when word finally does get out about tickets or lack thereof, you can find the latest here.
Seven new events added to Beijing 2022 roster
Beijing 2022 is a little under a month away, and what better way to ring in the occasion than with new sports.
Seven new events will debut on the Olympic roster in Beijing this year, most of which are mixed events – i.e. men and women athletes competing side by side – following the approval of mixed-gender events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics this past year.
New mixed events at Beijing 2022 will include the mixed team ski jump, mixed team freestyle skiing aerials, short track speed skating mixed team relays, and mixed snowboard cross – which can best be described as BMX but with snowboards, pretty badass if you ask us.
Aside from these mixed categories, the seven are rounded out by two more events: big air freestyle skiing – basically ski jump but with tricks to wow judges and spectators alike – as well as women’s monobob, aka single bobsled.
Saudi Arabia sends first Winter Olympics team to Beijing
If you’re like us, you’d probably be surprised to find Saudi Arabia fielding a Winter Olympics team. I mean, why would a country that’s 95 percent desert want to get involved in snow-based events?
Well you can act surprised now, because the Saudis are sending their first Winter Games athletes to Beijing.
To prepare for the Games, the Middle Eastern country hired European coaches to train athletes, and even held a bobsled summer camp in the Swiss Alps, according to CGTN. But it won’t be smooth sailing, as the eight athletes representing Saudi Arabia will have to clear qualifying events before they can compete, something that is “achievable” but a long shot, the Wall Street Journal quoted one Canadian coach as saying.
But hey, if a bobsled team from Jamaica can enter the Games, then we’re willing to bet these eight hopefuls can shine.
What are the new Saudi team’s chances at qualifying for the Games? And what events are you looking forward to watching as the event draws near? Let us know in the comments!
Images: Northeast Explorer, CGTN, thenationalnews.com
