Olympic opening ceremonies
FILE - The Olympic flame burns as fireworks explode during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Creative director Marco Balich, reveals to The Associated Press that he has been working for a year on a 30-minute show that will run ahead of the World Cup 2022 opening game between Qatar and Ecuador. He says local organizers "wanted to create a real show, which FIFA is not accustomed to.” (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
AP Exclusive: Balich leads Olympics-style World Cup ceremony

By Andrew Dampf Nov. 16, 2022 04:05 PM EST

FILE - Kimia Yousofi, front left, and Farzad Mansouri, of Afghanistan, carry their country's flag during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics on July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Afghanistan's flag bearer at the Tokyo 2020 Games and other prominent women's sports campaigners have been safely relocated to Australia following a year-long Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) project. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Afghan Olympians resettle in Australia to start afresh

Aug. 17, 2022 01:11 AM EDT

International Olympic Committee's President Thomas Bach, left, talks to French President Emmanuel Macron as he leaves the Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday, July 25, 2022. Tomorrow is marking two years until the Olympics are due to begin in the French capital. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly, Pool)
Paris 2024 gets Macron's support for huge opening ceremony

By John Leicester Jul. 25, 2022 01:28 PM EDT

Spectators cheer during a preliminary round men's hockey game between China and Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
China crafts a carefully curated slate of Olympic spectators

By Sam Mcneil Feb. 14, 2022 10:09 PM EST

Elana Meyers Taylor, of the United States, drives her bobsled during a women's monobob training heat at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
WHAT TO WATCH: Meyers Taylor leads monobob's Olympic debut

By Jake Seiner Feb. 11, 2022 12:39 PM EST

Fireworks, forming the Olympic rings, illuminate the sky during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (Li Xin/Xinhua via AP)
Several factors contribute to NBC's lower Olympic ratings

By Joe Reedy Feb. 08, 2022 03:24 AM EST

Denise Herrmann of Germany collapses at the finish line during the women's 15-kilometer individual race at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Olympics Live: US figure skater Zhou out after COVID test

Feb. 06, 2022 09:07 PM EST

A performer, second from right, clad in a traditional Korean dress waves during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. Major South Korean presidential candidates accused China of laying claim to their culture after the performer wore white and light purple hanbok dress during the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics. (Lim Hwa-young/Yonhap via AP)
S. Korea politicians criticize China over traditional dress

By Kim Tong-Hyung Feb. 05, 2022 07:49 AM EST

Children play as they wait in a neighbouring carpark to catch a glimpse of the fireworks for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Beijing Voices: Seeking a stadium peek from outside bubble

Feb. 05, 2022 12:27 AM EST

A bus is allowed through a security gate at a hotel inside the Olympic bubble at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
BEIJING SNAPSHOT: Together for a shared future, apart

By Mallika Sen Feb. 04, 2022 11:59 PM EST

Sweden's Walter Wallberg competes in the men's moguls finals at Genting Snow Park at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Olympic Updates: China's first gold draws cheers downtown

Feb. 04, 2022 08:11 PM EST

FILE - Chinese artist Ai Weiwei poses for the media during an "I am a Hong Konger! Discussing Human Rights and Democracy" panel discussion hosted by the faction of the German Liberals at the Reichstag building, home of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany on Sept. 29, 2020. Ai Weiwei, the dissident Chinese architect behind the Beijing stadium hosting the Friday Feb. 4, 2022 opening ceremony of the Winter Games has scoffed at the head of the U.N. health agency, saying China should award him “a gold medal” for not asking hard questions about its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)
Chinese dissident Ai voices criticism as Winter Games open

By Jamey Keaten Feb. 04, 2022 01:15 PM EST

Arisa Go and Akito Watabe, of Japan, lead their team in during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Beijing Olympics open with nod to Year of the Tiger

Feb. 04, 2022 07:44 AM EST

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (Carl Court/Pool Photo via AP)
In opening of Winter Olympics, chances at politicking abound

By Adam Schreck Feb. 04, 2022 07:08 AM EST

Opening ceremony for Beijing Winter Olympics begins amid severe pandemic restrictions and diplomatic boycott

Feb. 04, 2022 07:01 AM EST
BEIJING (AP) — Opening ceremony for Beijing Winter Olympics begins amid severe pandemic restrictions and diplomatic boycott. ...

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Emboldened China opens Olympics, with lockdown and boycotts

By Sarah Dilorenzo Feb. 04, 2022 04:01 AM EST

United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee officials, from right to left, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jonathan Finnoff, Board Chairperson and President Susanne Lyons, Chief of Sport Performance Rick Adams, and CEO Sarah Hirshland attend a press conference at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Nearly 80% of US Olympians signed up for opening ceremony

By Eddie Pells Feb. 04, 2022 03:11 AM EST

FILE-In this photograph provided by the Indian Army, army officers of India and China hold a meeting at Pangong lake region in Ladakh on the India-China border on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. India will not attend Friday's opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, after one of the torchbearers reportedly chosen by Chinese authorities riled up New Delhi's anger. India's foreign affairs spokesman Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said it was "regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicize an event like the Olympics." (Indian Army via AP, File)
EXPLAINER: Why India won't send diplomat to China Olympics

By Sheikh Saaliq Feb. 04, 2022 02:13 AM EST

FILE - Lights shine during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics at the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest in Beijing, China, Jan. 30, 2022. The artist Ai Weiwei helped design the stadium for the 2008 Olympics. It's again the venue for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Wang Xinchao, File)
Exiled artist Ai Weiwei reflects on Beijing Olympics

By Stephen Wade Feb. 03, 2022 11:50 PM EST

Marian Skupek of Slovakia speeds past the Olympic rings during a men's luge training run at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
How to watch the 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony

Feb. 03, 2022 11:24 PM EST