NPR Series: The 2022 Winter Olympics https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1075754094 What you need to know about this year's Winter Games en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Sun, 30 Mar 2025 13:55:27 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: The 2022 Winter Olympics https://www.npr.org/series/1075754094/2022-winter-olympics Paralympic Winter Games come to a close against a backdrop of war in Ukraine Sunday's closing ceremony marked the end of the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics. Ukraine had a strong performance at the games and came in second place in the overall medal count despite war at home. Sun, 13 Mar 2022 12:07:13 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2022/03/13/1086325195/paralympic-winter-games-closing-ceremony https://www.npr.org/2022/03/13/1086325195/paralympic-winter-games-closing-ceremony

Sunday's closing ceremony marked the end of the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics. Ukraine had a strong performance at the games and came in second place in the overall medal count despite war at home.

(Image credit: Alex Davidson)

]]> Wynne Davis China is a Paralympics star, but its people with disabilities face high hurdles China has dominated the medal count at the last five Paralympic Games. That's in stark contrast with the low level of disability access in Chinese society. Mon, 28 Feb 2022 08:07:19 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/02/28/1071104956/2022-winter-games-paralympics-china-disability https://www.npr.org/2022/02/28/1071104956/2022-winter-games-paralympics-china-disability

China has dominated the medal count at the last five Paralympic Games. That's in stark contrast with the low level of disability access in Chinese society.

(Image credit: Wang Zhao)

]]> Emily Feng No medals for 2022 Beijing Olympics. The Games drew their lowest U.S. ratings ever "This was probably the most difficult Olympics of all time," NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua said, citing "very harsh protocols in China" because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tue, 22 Feb 2022 20:17:29 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/02/22/1082461546/no-medals-for-2022-beijing-olympics-the-games-drew-their-lowest-u-s-ratings-ever https://www.npr.org/2022/02/22/1082461546/no-medals-for-2022-beijing-olympics-the-games-drew-their-lowest-u-s-ratings-ever "This was probably the most difficult Olympics of all time," NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua said, citing "very harsh protocols in China" because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

]]> Vanessa Romo 9 moments that resonated at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics NPR's team in Beijing put together moments and storylines that stuck out — including those that showed immense inner strength, athleticism and grace. Mon, 21 Feb 2022 06:21:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1081940350/9-moments-storylines-resonated-2022-beijing-winter-olympics https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1081940350/9-moments-storylines-resonated-2022-beijing-winter-olympics

NPR's team in Beijing put together moments and storylines that stuck out — including those that showed immense inner strength, athleticism and grace.

(Image credit: Anne-Christine Poujoulat)

]]> Jaclyn Diaz 30 hours after food poisoning, Jessie Diggins wins silver in 30-km cross-country race Diggins not only became the first non-European athlete to bring home a medal in the event, she's now the only American to bring back multiple cross-country medals from the same Olympics. Sun, 20 Feb 2022 14:18:46 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/02/20/1082028450/winter-olympics-jessie-diggins-30-km-cross-country https://www.npr.org/2022/02/20/1082028450/winter-olympics-jessie-diggins-30-km-cross-country Diggins not only became the first non-European athlete to bring home a medal in the event, she's now the only American to bring back multiple cross-country medals from the same Olympics.

]]> Dustin Jones The — at times complicated — 2022 Beijing Winter Games come to a close After 16 days and 109 events, the Winter Olympics officially ended Sunday with the traditional closing ceremony. Team U.S.A. finished with 25 medals in all. Sun, 20 Feb 2022 09:37:31 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2022/02/20/1082011620/closing-ceremony-winter-olympics-beijing https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2022/02/20/1082011620/closing-ceremony-winter-olympics-beijing

After 16 days and 109 events, the Winter Olympics officially ended Sunday with the traditional closing ceremony. Team U.S.A. finished with 25 medals in all.

(Image credit: Catherine Ivill)

]]> Jaclyn Diaz 'A deep depression after the Olympics.' The challenges facing athletes at home "Athletes post-Olympics or post-retirement need a lot of support, a lot of people reminding them of their worth beyond just their athletic achievements and results," says therapist Holly Brooks. Sun, 20 Feb 2022 03:45:47 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/02/20/1081945134/a-deep-depression-after-the-olympics-the-challenges-facing-athletes-at-home https://www.npr.org/2022/02/20/1081945134/a-deep-depression-after-the-olympics-the-challenges-facing-athletes-at-home

"Athletes post-Olympics or post-retirement need a lot of support, a lot of people reminding them of their worth beyond just their athletic achievements and results," says therapist Holly Brooks.

(Image credit: Sebastien Bozon)

]]> Emily Russell U.S. figure skaters won't get their team medals before the Winter Olympics end The American team had asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to rule they can receive their medals while they await the results of a wider investigation into the Kamila Valieva doping scandal. Sat, 19 Feb 2022 08:12:39 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081948939/u-s-figure-skaters-want-their-team-medals-before-the-2022-winter-olympics-end https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081948939/u-s-figure-skaters-want-their-team-medals-before-the-2022-winter-olympics-end

The American team had asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to rule they can receive their medals while they await the results of a wider investigation into the Kamila Valieva doping scandal.

(Image credit: Sebastien Bozon)

]]> Jaclyn Diaz Beijing Olympic organizers are touting a green Games. The reality is much different Authorities in China said they planted nearly 200,000 acres of forest and green areas prior to the Winter Games. But they also transplanted nearly 20,000 trees, which could endanger animal habitats. Sat, 19 Feb 2022 07:00:50 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081657319/winter-olympics-environmental-impact https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081657319/winter-olympics-environmental-impact

Authorities in China said they planted nearly 200,000 acres of forest and green areas prior to the Winter Games. But they also transplanted nearly 20,000 trees, which could endanger animal habitats.

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]]> Jaclyn Diaz Women are the stars (and the victims) of the Beijing Olympics Women are approaching gender parity at the Winter Games. They've also dominated news coverage because of powerhouse stars like Eileen Gu and because of tragic cases like Kamila Valieva. Sat, 19 Feb 2022 04:33:05 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081941277/eileen-gu-mikaela-shiffrin-kamila-valieva-women-stars-of-beijing-olympics https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081941277/eileen-gu-mikaela-shiffrin-kamila-valieva-women-stars-of-beijing-olympics

Women are approaching gender parity at the Winter Games. They've also dominated news coverage because of powerhouse stars like Eileen Gu and because of tragic cases like Kamila Valieva.

(Image credit: Cameron Spencer)

]]> Brian Mann