Like previous Olympic hosts, Beijing has been exploring ways to bring together China's cultural and artistic powers to the Olympic stage. Beijing 2022 echoes the design used at the Beijing 2008 Summer Games to highlight its unique status as the world's only city so far to host both summer and winter Olympics. Below, we look at the major designs embodying Chinese elements for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Flying high in our winter dream

Designed by Chinese artist Lin Cunzhen, the emblems for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games combine Chinese calligraphy with abstract slides, illustrating the vigor and passion of winter sports. 

The Olympic emblem Winter Dream is inspired by the Chinese character for winter – 冬(dong). The upper and lower parts are in the posture of a speed skater and a skier, placing athletes as the center of attention.

The Paralympic emblem flying high resembles the Chinese character –飞(fei). The image shifts into an athlete who bravely pushes forward and succeeds against all odds.

Incorporating traditional Chinese culture into venue designs

The "S-type" curve of the National Ski Jumping Center, located in the Zhangjiakou competition zone, is nicknamed "Snow Ruyi" thanks to its resemblance to the shape of a "Ruyi," a traditional Chinese ornament symbolizing good luck.  

Shougang Big Air makes the best use of the old industrial park and turns it into a new stadium. The inspiration comes from the Flying Apsaras of the ancient Dunhuang murals. 

Adding a technological and festive atmosphere for mascots

An animated giant panda named "Bing Dwen Dwen" and a red lantern baby called "Shuey Rhon Rhon" were unveiled as the two mascots for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games on Sept. 17, 2019.

The mascots are strongly associated with the host nation's culture.

Giant pandas are often regarded as a symbol of China. From Sep.17, 2019, it became an ambassador for winter sports. Bing is the Chinese character for ice, while Dwen Dwen is a common nickname in China for healthy and ingenious children. 

"Wearing an ice coat with a colorful halo, Bing Dwen Dwen looks like an astronaut panda, implying the perfect combination of modern technology and ice sports," said Liu Pingyun, the main designer of the team from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.

Shuey Rhon Rhon, the mascot of Paralympics, crowned a "Ruyi" image which symbolizes luck and happiness. The red body with paper-cutting decorations of peace doves and Beijing's Temple of Heaven creates festive atmosphere.

The designer regards the lantern as a prototype and personifies it by adding a snow face. In Chinese tradition, people believe that a heavy snow promises a good harvest.

The idea of a lantern comes from Jiang Yufan, a junior at Jilin University of Arts. "Lanterns are popular festival decorations in my hometown Jiayin county, Yichuan city, Heilongjiang province. Our winter lasts for almost half a year. The common scene of 'snow falls on lanterns' inspired me," Jiang explained.

Capturing perfect scenes with seal graving

The Beijing 2022 organizing committee BOCOG released 30 pictograms for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on Dec. 31, 2020. Designed based on traditional Chinese seal engraving, these icons in glowing red embody both rich Chinese culture and strong festive mood.

The style also brings back the memory of the 2008 Summer Games in the Chinese capital. The emblem for the city's first-ever Olympics was a red Chinese seal enclosing a lively dancing figure that resembles the Chinese character 京(jing), which means capital.

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