It’s time to get your skates on…
The wait for the Winter Games is almost over, with a record 109 events over 15 disciplines in 7 sports to look forward to this February.
Beijing assumes hosting duties as it becomes the first city in history to host both a summer and a winter games, 14 years on from hosting the 2008 summer games.
Here’s all you need to know about the wealth of winter sport coming to a TV screen near you…
Beijing Games Preview | At-A-Glance Guide to the Winter Games
One of the biggest sporting events of 2022 all gets underway on Friday 4th February, with the Opening Ceremony expected to begin at the Beijing National Stadium (aka the Bird’s Nest) around late morning for watching UK viewers.
It all wraps up just over a fortnight later on Sunday 20th February.
🏑 🎿 What’s new for 2022? ⛷🏂
Plenty.
7 new events have been added to the slate for the 24th winter games – men’s and women’s big air freestyle, women’s monobob, mixed team competitions in freestyle skiing aerials, ski jumping, snowboard cross, and a short-track speed skating mixed-relay.
This year’s event will also see the largest number of women’s events of any winter Olympiad.
Where can I watch the Winter Games and what time is it on?
The timing of the live coverage is good news for both night owls and those up with the lark.
The BBC will be airing over 300 hours of live coverage of the games, with the bulk of the action occurring between midnight and 6am UK time.
Hazel Irvine, Jeanette Kwakye, Ayo Akinwolere and JJ Chalmers will anchor live coverage, while Clare Balding and Aimee Fuller will present highlight shows for those viewers not prepared to play havoc with their sleep patterns.
Beijing Medal Expectations | GB Medal Hopes For 2022
While traditionally GB athletes struggle to make as much of a splash at the winter games compared to its summer alternative, the team’s fortunes have been improving in recent Olympiads, picking up a haul of five medals at both the 2014 and 2018 winter games.
GB is also looking to break at least one modest record in Beijing.
A gold medal win this February would ensure the team has picked up top honours in at least one event at four Winter Games in a row – a feat that they have never previously achieved.
However, hitting that landmark might be a hard ask this time round.
GB legend Lizzy Yarnold – winner of two of those gold medals – has now called time on her glittering skeleton career, which means attention will be turning to a new generation of stars to try and emulate her achievement.
It’s likely to be a slow-burn fortnight for British viewers hunting medals, with leading statistician company Gracenote predicting only three medals for GB in their projected table just a few weeks out from the games.
2022 GB Medal Hopes – 2022 Winter Games
Snowboard slopestyle star Katie Ormerod looks one of Britain’s best hopes for podium joy in 2022, having recovered from a horror injury to enjoy a fine comeback last year.
She became the first British athlete to win a World Cup snowboard title in March 2020, while snowboard cross ace Charlotte Bankes will be arriving with momentum behind her after going top of the World Cup standings in January – form that has tipped her into possible gold contention.
Remember when curling fever briefly gripped the nation 20 years ago?
Rhona Martin skippered the GB women’s team to gold in 2002 in Salt Lake in a moment that has gone down in British Olympic folklore.
Get ready for a reprisal this February, with mixed doubles pair Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds expected to be bang in contention to top the podium after their triumph at the 2021 World Mixed Doubles Championship.
Winter Games Betting | Marathonbet Sportsbook
Check our prices first as a huge fortnight of sport gets underway in Beijing.
Whether you’re an avid fan of alpine skiing, barmy about biathlon, or interested in the ice hockey, we’ve got all the major markets covered this winter over in the Marathonbet Sportsbook.
Who are you backing to top the medal table?
Information correct at time of writing.
