Winter Paralympics: all you need to know about the Beijing Games, plus how to watch in Hong Kong
- Covid-19 restrictions and war in Ukraine have cast a shadow over the Paralympics, but athletes now have their chance to compete
- Friday’s opening ceremony at the Bird’s Nest Stadium will be attended by dignitaries including Chinese President Xi Jinping
The Winter Paralympics officially open in Beijing on Friday evening, and like last month’s Olympics the build up has been turbulent.
Covid-19 restrictions and a growing war in Ukraine have cast a shadow over the event, but athletes now have their chance to compete, and organisers are hoping the success of the Winter Games flows into the Paralympics.
The opening ceremony at the Bird’s Nest Stadium will be attended by dignitaries including Chinese President Xi Jinping. The first of 78 gold medals will be awarded on Saturday – day one of competition – and the closing ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 13.
Like the Winter Games, the Paralympics will follow a “closed loop” system to prevent all possible contact between the outside world and the athletes, organisers, officials and media.
A complicated week
The Beijing 2022 Paralympics take place against a deepening crisis in Ukraine, with Russia’s invasion pushing an estimated 1 million refugees into neighbouring countries.