Olympic Torch Relay begins with ceremony in Beijing

BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 2: The Olympic Torch Relay of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 was launched at the Beijing Olympic Forest Park, in Beijing, China, on February 2, 2022. The route and duration of the torch relay were reduced as per health and safety measures because the coronavirus pandemic still has effects. "The three host zones of the Games Beijing's city proper, Beijing's Yanqing District and the city of Zhangjiakou in the neighboring Hebei Province will welcome this traditional relay," the Olympics said. The first day of the quadrennial sporting event will see curling and luge contests, but Beijing 2022's opening ceremony is scheduled to be held on Friday, Feb. 4. Beijing is set to become the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics. The Chinese capital previously hosted the 2008 Summer Games. But before the ceremony, Alpine skiing, curling, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, and ski jumping competitions will be played on Thursday, and Saturday will see medal events in several disciplines such as biathlon, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, short track speed skating, ski jumping, and speed skating. The Winter Olympics will go through to Feb. 20, when medal games and the closing ceremony will take place. There will be 15 disciplines in the 2022 Games, including famed ones such as Alpine skiing, curling, figure skating, ice hockey, ski jumping, snowboard, and speed skating. Nearly 3,000 athletes from 91 countries will compete in this year's Winter Olympics. Several important names are expected to shine at the 2022 Winter Olympics. US skier Mikaela Shiffrin, 26, is expected another successful performance. She already has two Olympic golds (2014 Sochi - slalom, 2018 Pyeongchang - giant slalom) and seven world championships.(Footage by Emre Aytekin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)