As Australia sweats through another summer, the world turns its attention to the cool competition at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The Games will run from February 4 to 20, and be followed by the Winter Paralympics from March 4 to 13.
Here’s what you need to know about how and when to watch.
How can I watch the Winter Olympics in Australia?
The Beijing Winter Olympics will be broadcast in Australia on free-to-air TV on Channel Seven.
You can also watch the Games on the streaming platform 7Plus.
The ABC will also be live blogging the opening ceremony and events at the Winter Olympics.
China has only one time zone, which is the same time zone as Perth (AWST), currently two hours behind Brisbane (AEST), and three hours behind Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart (AEDT).
When is the opening ceremony?
The Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony is happening today (Friday) at 8:00pm AWST (11:00pm AEDT) and run for about two hours.
It will be held at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest.
This was the same stadium which hosted the opening ceremony for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
The event will make the Bird’s Nest the only stadium to have hosted opening ceremonies for both a summer and winter Olympics.
When is the closing ceremony?
The Beijing Winter Olympics closing ceremony is due to be held on Sunday, February 20 at 8:00pm AWST (11:00pm AEDT) and run for about three hours.
It will also be held at the Bird’s Nest.
The closing ceremony will see Beijing pass on the Winter Olympics to the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina-D’Ampezzo, where the 2026 Winter Olympics will be held.
What sports are in the Winter Olympics?
There are 15 disciplines at the Beijing Winter Olympics:
- Alpine skiing
- Biathlon
- Bobsleigh
- Cross-country skiing
- Curling
- Ice hockey
- Figure skating
- Freestyle skiing
- Luge
- Nordic combined
- Short track speed skating
- Skeleton
- Ski jumping
- Snowboard
- Speed skating
Australia has 44 athletes competing in 10 disciplines: Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, figure skating, freestyle skiing, luge, short track speed skating, skeleton and snowboard.
Women account for more than half of the athletes, making it Australia’s highest proportion of women on a Winter Olympics team.
What is the Winter Olympics mascot?
The Beijing Winter Olympics mascot is a panda called Bing Dwen Dwen.
The name is made up of two meanings: “Bing” for ice as well as purity and strength, and “Dwen Dwen” for children.
Bing Dwen Dwen was chosen from 5,800 submissions by children from China and 35 other countries as part of a competition.
The panda wears a protective full-body suit made of ice that helps it skate, snowboard and ski.
The Beijing Winter Paralympics mascot is Chinese lantern child, Shuey Rhon Rhon.
Its name means snow (Shuey), inclusion (Rhon) and to melt, fuse or warm (second Rhon).
The Winter Paralympics are due to be held by Beijing from March 4 to 13.
