Thrilling spectacle as Beijing wows the world again

President Xi announces opening of Winter Games during breathtaking ceremony featuring 'ice breaking' moment 

Featuring Chinese festival culture and a technology-enhanced visual spectacle, a stunning ceremony took the world's breath away on Friday night as President Xi Jinping declared the opening of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Fourteen years after impressing the world with a grand show to open the 2008 Summer Games, Beijing delivered again, wowing an international audience with a celebration of not just the highest level of winter sports, but also the traditional Spring Festival, during the opening ceremony of the 24th Winter Olympics. The event was held at the same iconic venue as in 2008－the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest.

To the excitement of the on-site crowd and people across the country watching on TV, Xi announced the opening of the Games, making the Chinese capital the first city in the world to host both summer and winter editions of the Olympics.