Irish Examiner view: Can the winter games be made glorious in the shadow of human rights questions and Covid restrictions?

Competition at the Beijing Olympics commences today, two days ahead of the official opening, in the shadow of continuing questions on China's human rights record and stringent Covid-19 restrictions.  

Athletes from the Netherlands skate during a speedskating practice ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing. Picture: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

So the XXIV Winter Olympics are upon us, that three-week festival when we suddenly become interested in curling, and yearn to know more about triple salchows, Biellmann spins, halfpipes, and how to stay on a luge.

Competition starts today, confusingly two days before Friday’s opening ceremony, under the benign smile of the golden panda Bing Dwen Dwen, the Beijing 2022 mascot, and co-worker Shuey Rhon Rho, the anthropomorphic Chinese lantern which is the symbol of the Winter Paralympics.