TUESDAY January 25, 2022: 'China's CONTROVERSY GAMES' from ZUMA Press award winning photographer Wiktor Dabkowski: The 2022 Winter Games may be the strangest Olympics ever. As omicron continues to shake up the world, nowhere is Covid disruption more evident than in Beijing, as organizers do all they can to make sure the two-week event runs smoothly. To prevent teams bringing Covid into China the entire event will take place within a tightly monitored loop or bubble. Foreign spectators are barred from the games, while journalists will be separated from competitors by plastic shields. The strangeness isn't just regarding Covid-19. The U.S. announced its officials would boycott the Games, due to concerns about 'crimes against humanity' and human rights abuses, and was followed by Australia, the U.K. and Canada, in the first such protest of a host country since the Cold War. China simply stated that officials hadn't been invited anyway and claims the U.S. ''will pay'' for its demonstration. The Winter Olympics take place from 4 February to 20 February with around 3,000 athletes competing in 109 different events. The Winter Paralympics run from 4 March to 13 March, with 736 competitors across 78 events. Welcome to 'China's CONTROVERSY GAMES'
© Story of the Week #823: TUESDAY January 25, 2022: 'China's CONTROVERSY GAMES' from ZUMA Press award winning photographer Wiktor Dabkowski: The 2022 Winter Games may be the strangest Olympics ever. As omicron continues to shake up the world, nowhere is Covid disruption more evident than in Beijing, as organizers do all they can to make sure the two-week event runs smoothly. To prevent teams bringing Covid into China the entire event will take place within a tightly monitored loop or bubble. Foreign spectators are barred from the games, while journalists will be separated from competitors by plastic shields. The strangeness isn't just regarding Covid-19. The U.S. announced its officials would boycott the Games, due to concerns about 'crimes against humanity' and human rights abuses, and was followed by Australia, the U.K. and Canada, in the first such protest of a host country since the Cold War. China simply stated that officials hadn't been invited anyway and claims the U.S. ''will pay'' for its demonstration. The Winter Olympics take place from 4 February to 20 February with around 3,000 athletes competing in 109 different events. The Winter Paralympics run from 4 March to 13 March, with 736 competitors across 78 events. Welcome to 'China's CONTROVERSY GAMES'
Wearing face masks during the coronavirus pandemic, a crowd of visitors walks down a street in the old town of Beijing during Chinese New Year public holiday, ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. No tickets will be sold for the upcoming Olympic Games, authorities announced as new COVID-19 cases were detected in Chinese capital. Spectators will be on invitation only.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
A bicycle parked near a large logo for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games on an empty street in Beijing. China’s capital city is set to become the first to host both the Summer and Winter Games. With virtually no natural snow to be found, all the snow at all the venues will be artificial.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
A stylish girl wears pink clothing and furry ears at '5 Cats Mall' in Beijing. The popular venue is painted all pink, and is a major attraction for young Chinese influencers.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
A woman carries a youngster as children enjoy snow play and sledding at Olympic Park near the Olympic Tower in Beijing. No tickets will be sold to the public for the upcoming winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, authorities announced as new COVID-19 cases were detected in Chinese capital.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
Hockey players enjoy a practice game on the frozen lake next to the 'Nest', Beijing's National Sports Stadium, the venue will hold the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
An elderly Chinese man practices Kung-Fu in front of the Big Air, Ski-Jumping platform for the 2022 Winter Olympics at Shougang Park in Beijing.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
A worker installs a CCTV, surveillance camera around the edge of the frozen Beihai Lake in central Beijing ahead of the Winter Olympics. Every year the lake is turned into a public ice rink.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
A man carries cotton candy in the shape of a bunny as he walks a street in the old town of Beijing, during the Chinese New Year public holiday.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
Families with young children enjoy snow play at Olympic Park near the Olympic Tower in Beijing. None of the snow will be real for the 2022 winter Olympics. At both the alpine skiing venue in Yanqing, and at the biathlon, cross-country, freestyle, nordic, ski jumping and snowboarding venues in Zhangjiakou, which is 100 miles northwest of the host city. The areas temperatures regularly dip below freezing, but natural monthly snowfall is best measured in centimeters.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
A father with his daughter sitting on his bicycle stopped on a bridge near the Big Air, Ski-Jumping platform for the 2022 Winter Olympics at Shougang Park in Beijing.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
Two young girls with face masks during the coronavirus pandemic, pose for a selfie with their toy dolls on the Chinese New Year public holiday in the old town of Beijing.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
Olympic rings sit atop the Olympic Tower located at the 'Nest' National Sports Stadium, the venue will hold the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games on February 4th.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
Tourists wearing face masks during he coronavirus pandemic visit the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The historic site is an imperial complex of religious buildings and one of the landmarks of China's capital city.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
A Beijing opera actor applies makeup in a powder room at Liyuan Theater. Peking or Beijing opera, is the most dominant form of Chinese opera, which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
Winter sports decorations with sculptures of skiers and snowboarders at the popular Solana Shopping Mall in Beijing, ahead of the Winter Olympics.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
Two men walk with umbrellas during light rain near the Evergrande Royal Scenery housing complex in Beijing. House prices are falling in China and slower than expected retail sales also showed that the economy is weakening.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
A man dressed as Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh with a sunflower in his hand entertains visitors to an interactive exhibition of Van Gogh's paintings in Beijing.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
The Year of Tiger decoration in a shopping mall in Beijing. On February 1, 2022 Asian countries will celebrate Lunar New Year also known as the 'Spring Festival.'
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
Ice skaters enjoy racing on the frozen lake next to the 'Nest' National Stadium, the venue will hold the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
A baker displays a cake with Olympic rings, as confectioners in the Chinese capital create cakes with Olympic logos and symbols of individual winter Olympic sports to celebrate the upcoming games.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
The Olympic Tower seen behind Paifang Chinese Gate and a classic sculpture of horseback rider in Beijing. No tickets will be sold for the upcoming winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, authorities announced after new COVID-19 cases were detected in Chinese capital.
© Wiktor Dabkowski/ZUMA Press Wire
