OlymPicks: Vehicle Restrictions Come Into Play Ahead of Games, Zhang Yimou Promises ‘Different’ Opening & Closing Ceremonies

In OlymPicks, we highlight news, gossip, and developments regarding the buildup to Beijing's 2022 Winter Olympics.

Drivers told to avoid specially marked Olympics vehicles

Picture this: You’re riding along the expressway in a Didi or taxi when suddenly your car scratches the bumper of a car ahead. The vehicles stop, your driver gets out to talk to the other driver and settle the mess, however, when he looks at the windshield, he’s taken aback – face flushed white.

The driver returns to the vehicle, gets in, and drives away. You look back and realize why – on one of the corners, there’s a bright red circle emblazoned with “Beijing 2022” in stylized lettering.

While this is hypothetical for now, it could happen to anyone in the coming months, with the capital having recently released two images – one of a coach bus and another of a black sedan – with the same sticker, saying that if any driver is in an accident with these official Olympic-use vehicles, not to go and talk to the drivers or passengers.

That’s all in order to maintain the closed loop and keep Covid out of Beijing and out of the Games, so be sure to keep an eye out for these vehicles on the road.

Beijing releases requirements for “low, slow flying aircraft” ahead of Games

In other transport-related news as Beijing 2022 approaches, the city has announced it will prohibit the use of “low, slow and small flying aircraft” from being piloted in the capital beginning midnight on Jan 28 to midnight on Mar 13.

What are low, slow and small flying aircraft exactly? According to the announcement, these include light helicopters, gliders, model planes, paragliders, balloons, airships – fancy speak for blimps – and UAVs, which most likely includes drones.

Those who want to fly during this period are asked to apply for permission from the PLA and, should they choose to violate the rules, will be investigated and face punishment from local law enforcement.

So if you’re itching to get out and about in your airship, hot air balloon or otherwise just take your model plane out for a spin, it’s probably better to wait ‘til mid-March to do that.

Zhang Yimou picked to direct opening and closing ceremonies

Acclaimed Chinese film director Zhang Yimou has been picked to direct Beijing 2022’s opening and closing ceremonies.

Zhang was similarly picked to do the opening and closing ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, and with the awe-inspiring show he put on for those occasions, we have to wonder how he’s going to top that masterpiece (to relive the excitement, you can watch the opening ceremony here).

Following the announcement, the man himself said at a recent press conference that the ceremonies will be “different” yet will stress simplicity.

There will be no large scale performances, with the number of performers taking part reduced to 3,000 instead of the 15,000 at the 2008 Games.

While organizers stress that limitations are due to Covid controls, it seems Winter Olympics ceremonies are just smaller in general – Both Pyeongchang 2018 and Sochi 2014 had an estimated 2,000 performers, so bumping it up to 3,000 doesn’t seem like much at all.

Zhang has taken this all in stride, though, saying quality will not be affected and likening the challenge to the sword of a martial arts master: "Being simple, just as in martial arts films, is like a master's sword… All his spirit is focused on the tip of the sword, and the power of his stab is different. It looks like a very simple stab, but with fateful power."

Norway predicted to win most medals at upcoming Games

The folks over at Nielsen’s Gracenote updated their virtual medal table on Jan 5, and while China and a few other countries have procured a few more medals to edge themselves up in the rankings, one thing remains the same – Norway is still predicted to lead the pack.

They’re expected to take home more than the 39 they took home from the Pyongchang 2018 Games – a total of 45, with a record 22 golds.

Norway is closely followed by the Russian Olympic Committee in the predictions – the team representing Russia following their punishment by the World Anti-Doping Federation – with 32 medals total. Germany rounds out the top three, with an expected 25 total.

Norway generally does well in the Winter Olympics, so much so that they're atop the leaderboard for all-time medals for the Winter Games, with 368 total – 132, 125 and 111 gold, silver and bronze medals respectively – as of Pyeongchang 2018.

READ: OlymPicks: Ticket Rumors Abound, Seven New Events to Debut at Beijing 2022

Images: chinatravelnews.com, beijing2022.cn, sina.com.cn, pledgesports.com, Gracenote