Have the Winter Olympics caught you cold? Here is our guide to armchairs | 2022 Winter Olympics

HHave the Winter Olympics caught you cold? Like the Jamaican bobsleigh team (their first appearance since 1998), the Games are back as the world’s biggest stars on snow and ice descend on Beijing in search of all things gold, silver and bronze. . Times aren’t the most sociable for viewers in the UK, with most of the day’s events starting around midnight and ending around 3pm, but there’s plenty to get excited about. Here’s our armchair guide on what to follow, when, and why snowboard cross could be your new favorite sport.

When do the Games start?

The opening ceremony is a Friday night event on February 4, with 3,000 performers and Beijing 2022 organizers vowing to light a cauldron “unprecedented in the more than 100-year history of the Olympics” at the National Stadium. , affectionately known as Bird’s Nest. However, events will kick off before the opening ceremony, with curling and bobsled on Wednesday, before alpine skiing, freestyle skiing and ice hockey (including a big women’s match between defending Olympic champions USA, and world No. 3 Finland) get underway on Thursday.

How many athletes does GB send?

Team GB has 50 fully vaccinated athletes, nine fewer than the 2018 total, with speed skater Ellia Smeding receiving last place last week. Everyone is expected to follow strict Covid protocols: they must stay and eat in designated places and have been instructed to minimize hugs, high fives and handshakes at all times, although memorial condoms in their hotel rooms suggest that the authorities are anticipating some rule. break. In slightly less tantalizing developments, GB athletes have been offered temporary mobile phones for fear of being spied on by the Chinese government. Britain has joined the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada in refusing to send official diplomats over China’s record of human rights abuses.

How many medals does GB expect?

Seven, who would break the record five, won at Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018. “British athletes have the potential to win three to seven medals at the Olympics, and five to nine medals at the Paralympics,” UK said. Sport’s. executive director, Sally Munday.

Which Brits should we watch out for?

GB’s first shot at medals will likely come on February 8, day four of the Games, when Scottish curlers (and childhood friends) Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat will attempt to turn their world mixed doubles title into something Olympic. Izzy Atkin will also be in contention for a medal at the first Olympic women’s freeski big air final. Dave Ryding, a 35-year-old skier from Chorley in Lancashire, last week became the first British skier to win a gold medal in the 55-year history of the Alpine World Cup and will seek gold in the men’s slalom on 16 February. But reigning snowboard cross world champion Charlotte Bankes and Sochi 2014 freestyle ski silver medalist Gus Kenworthy are GB’s best hopes, having defected from France and the USA respectively.

What else is worth seeing?

American skier Mikaela Shiffrin, a double Olympic gold medalist, will face Slovakian rival Petra Vlhova in the women’s slalom on February 9. A similar battle will begin at the figure skating rink between Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu and American Nathan Chen. The two are fierce rivals: Hanyu has said he plans to attempt the hallowed quad axel jump in Beijing, while Yale student Chen hopes to take gold before preparing for his exams in May.

How can I watch it in the UK?

Coverage is shared between the BBC and Eurosport, with over 300 hours of live action on BBC One and Two, and many more options online and on the red button. Eurosport subscribers can stream Beijing to their homes online or via its own app, while Discovery+ offers the option to watch all events live.

What will be the coverage of The Guardian?

Sean Ingle and Bryan Armen Graham will be donning their hats and gloves to report live from the Games and you can sign up for Martin Belam’s daily email newsletter to stay up to date with all the best action, plus any wacky stories you may have. omitted. And you can join our team of writers online for continued great coverage on our live blog, featuring everything from video highlights to analysis to the latest interviews and reactions.