Winter Games Ultimate Guide

The 2022 Winter Games will begin on February 4, 2022 and conclude with the closing ceremonies on February 20, 2022. View the Winter Games event schedule here.

The Winter Games are held every four years. The last Winter Games (in 2018) were held in PyeongChang, South Korea. Following Beijing’s Winter Games, the next edition will take place in 2026 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

Beijing has never before held the Winter Games. However, the city did hold the Summer Games in 2008 and will make history as the first destination to host both.

The 2022 Winter Games will play out in 25 different venues in and around Beijing. Venues include:
• The National (Bird’s Nest) Stadium: Opening and Closing Ceremonies
• The National Indoor Stadium: Hockey
• The Wukesong Sports Centre: Hockey
• The Capital Indoor Stadium: Figure Skating, Short Track
• The National Aquatics Centre: Curling
• The National Speed Skating Oval: Speed Skating
• China National Convention Centre: Broadcasting Center
• Beijing Olympic Village
• National Alpine Ski Centre: Alpine Skiing
• National Sliding Centre: Bobsled, Luge, Skeleton
• Yanqing Media Centre
• Yanqing Olympic Village
• Nordic Centre: Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined
• Biathlon Centre: Nordic Combined, Cross-country Skiing
• Hualindong Ski Resort: Biathlon
• Genting Hotel: Media Center
• Genting Snow Park: Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard
• Taiwu Ski Resort: Snowboard Cross, Freestyle Skiing
• Wanlong Ski Resort: Snowboarding
• Zhangjiakou Olympic Village

Currently, no U.S. cities are confirmed as future Winter Games hosts. However, Salt Lake City has expressed interest in hosting the Winter Games in 2030 or 2034.

The Winter Games are 17 days long, running from February 4-20, 2022. There are a small number of disciplines that have preliminary events taking place in the two days before the Games officially begin on February 4th.

Though we don’t know the exact number yet, we can expect the total to be similar to 2018 when athletes from 92 different countries competed.

For the Winter Games, the qualification process depends on the event. Each different sport is governed by an international sports federation who works closely with the International Olympic Committee. Within each sport, there are various methods to determine who will be selected. Some sports conduct Olympic Trial competitions to determine who will head to the Games. Some are based on individual performance over the period leading up to the Games, sometimes in terms of a points or ranking system. In the case of team sports, the team is usually selected based on athletes’ performance.

In addition, to encourage global participation there are limits on the number of athletes that can participate for a country in each event, as well as quotas for certain regions. The hosting country also may receive automatic qualification for some events.

Norway has won more Winter Games medals than any other country: an impressive total of 368.

With its large population, it’s no surprise that the United States often leads the way when it comes to the number of athletes participating. In 2018, the USA sent 242 athletes to the Winter Games in PyeongChang.

A total of 15 disciplines in 7 different sports will be contested at the 2022 Winter Games:

• Alpine Skiing
• Biathlon
• Bobsled
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Curling
• Figure Skating
• Freestyle Skiing
• Ice Hockey
• Luge
• Nordic Combined
• Short Track Speed Skating
• Skeleton
• Ski Jumping
• Snowboard
• Speed Skating

There are 109 medal events scheduled for the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

The most-watched Winter Games Sport varies largely by country. This interesting map by Google Trends shows which sport is most popular in each country around the world. Some are not surprising, for example hockey is king in Canada and the USA. However, some are more unexpected like curling’s popularity in northern Africa and India.

According to injury reports submitted after the 2010 and 2014 Winter Games, aerial skiing reported the largest percentage of injuries, with nearly half of the participants noting an injury. After aerial skiing, snowboard cross and slopestyle snowboard weren’t too far behind.

If you’re planning on traveling to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Games we recommend packing warm clothes, especially ones you can layer. Though the temperature inside the venues may be warm, getting to them (and waiting your turn to enter) may not be. Another important item is comfortable walking shoes. Even if your transportation plan has you arriving right at the venue, there’s a good chance you’ll discover a wide security perimeter that will require some walking. And of course, don’t forget your travel documents including your passport!

In Beijing, you’ll find that many locals speak some basic English, though most are not fluent. In the airports, hotels, and major restaurants and shops, you should have no trouble finding someone who speaks English. All of our guests at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games will have access to our 24/7 bilingual local hosts who can assist with any language obstacles.

In addition to the excitement of the Winter Games, Beijing has a long list of attractions worth scheduling some time to visit. Some of the most popular include:

Temple of Heaven – Dating back to 1420, this stunning 670-acre temple complex has been described as “a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design.”

Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City – Located in Beijing’s city center, Tiananmen Square has a long history and is also home to the National Museum of China. Adjacent to Tiananmen Square is the Forbidden City, the largest imperial palace complex in the world.

National Museum of China – Located in the Forbidden City, here you can find the answers to China’s long and fascinating history.

Hutongs – Hutongs are small alleyways, forming intricate labyrinths around Beijing. They provide a glimpse of the past and offer an opportunity to mingle with locals.

If your schedule permits, here are few notable attractions that can be experienced on a day trip from Beijing:

Great Wall – If you’re going to travel all the way to China, you’ve got to see the famous Great Wall. The most famous section is at Badaling but there are plenty of other sections worthy of a visit.

Ming Tombs – Easily combinable with a trip to see the Great Wall, the Ming Tombs are the final resting place of 13 of China’s 16 Emperors of the Ming Dynasty. The picturesque grounds are located on the side of Tianshou Mountain.

Summer Palace — Located in the outskirts of Beijing, the Summer Palace is the largest and most well-preserved park in China. This beautiful spot features gardens, lakes, palaces, temples and bridges.