A Chilling Competition: The 2022 Beijing Olympics
Competitive sports holds a special place here at OBB, with some of our favorite customers using our products to train and perform better. Nothing is more inspiring than seeing an athlete break new records, win renowned matches, and participate in the biggest sporting events. None of which is bigger than the Olympics. This year, Beijing will be hosting the 24th Winter Olympics. Today, we here at OBB have gathered some of the best news to get you ready for these wonderful winter games.
It’s worth noting the elephant in the trophy room at this event, that being the continued presence of Covid-19. With the new Omicron variant spreading since September of last year, many were and are still apprehensive of holding the winter games. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Olympic organizers have taken a variety of measures to keep the games as safe as possible. Most notable is the closed-loop management system. As described on the official Olympics site, this system will restrict all participants in the games to only the venues. That includes athletes, coaches, and workers. An important exception is the absence of spectators. After a recent surge of Covid infections in China, it was deemed too dangerous to allow a general audience to the games. Instead, only a few spectators selected by Olympic officials will be able to attend. While this reception may feel cold, it is a necessary step to ensure the games can progress, whilst diminishing the threat of Covid.
On a brighter note, the Winter Olympic will still be the spectacle that they were always meant to be. Here’s a few quick highlights.
The US’s star athlete is speed skater Erin Jackson. Only a few months ago did she become the first black woman to win the speed skating World Cup. With her top ranking in the women's 500-meter speed skate, Jackson is primed to be the starring athlete of this olympics.
Snowboarding superstar Shaun White will also be appearing. He’s earned three gold medals in the sport for the US. With his first appearance at the games in 2000 long behind him, White has started talking about retirement. In his interview with Matt Sullivan from the Rolling Stones, White has said that the Beijing Olympics will be his last Olympics. We can only hope that his last is his best!
For the first time since 1998, Jamaica will be sending a four man bobsledding team. This story has been making the circuit, given that the team's last appearance was when they suffered a devastating crash. Though this team has had a long absence from the games, their spirit is sure to carry them to a great performance at this year’s games. They symbolize a return to tradition that the games desperately need. May they be a sign for the better.
These and many other stories highlight this year's games, making for another standout Olympics. Nothing raises the spirit more than seeing some of the world’s greatest athletes compete in a competition like no other. Who will you be rooting for?
