The lighting of the cauldron signaled that the curtain had been raised on the Beijing Winter Olympics, which run from Feb 4 to Feb 20. Public exhibitions of the torch and the traditional national relay in the host country have been streamlined for the Beijing Games due to COVID-19 precautionary measures.Ĭai Qi, secretary of the Communist Party of China Beijing Municipal Committee and president of the organizing committee for the Games, lit a cauldron on a stage using a torch ignited from the lantern's flame.
The flame arrived early on Oct 20 after being flown from Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics, where it was lit two days earlier.
Witnessed by organizers, sports figures, performers and students, the flame-housed in a red lantern-drew crowds of onlookers as it was escorted by volunteers into a ceremony held at Beijing's Olympic Tower.
Carrying a message of peace and solidarity, the flame for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games arrived to a warm welcome in Beijing on Oct 20.