Over the course of the last two years, the world has been turned upside down; however, there is one event that has remained unchanged, its date not postponed or canceled. Since July 31, 2015, the XXIV Winter Olympics have been scheduled for February 2022 in Beijing, China.

The well-anticipated winter games will occur Feb. 4, 2022 through Feb. 20, 2022, ending just over 6 months after the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. The 2022 Winter Olympics features 109 events across 15 disciplines in seven sports; and of those 109 events, the games highlight seven new events: Women’s Monobob, Men’s and Women’s Big Air (Freestyle Skiing), Mixed Team Snowboard Cross, Mixed Team Aerials, Mixed Team Short Track Relay and Mixed Team Ski Jumping. 

Team U.S.A.’s roster is set to include over 200 athletes, many of which will be determined later this winter through official Olympic Trials, World Cup events and national championships. Currently, 16 athletes in sports such as alpine skiing, biathlon, curling and ice hockey have qualified for the team.

Beijing is allowing fans; however, only those who meet “specific [COVID-19] requirements” from Mainland China are able to attend. Although this is frustrating for Olympic enthusiasts around the globe, it is simply a conscious effort to continue to stop the spread of COVID-19. Tickets for Chinese citizens range from around $8 USD for general event admission, all the way up to $787 USD for larger spectacles such as the opening and closing ceremonies.

American citizens are not the only ones who will not be in attendance at this year’s games; a “diplomatic boycott” of the Beijing Olympics was newly announced by the Biden administration on Dec. 6, 2021, meaning that they are not sending any official U.S. ambassadors to China this February. Customarily, a group of notable U.S. political figures attend Olympic ceremonies accompanied by the first lady or vice president; most recently a group of diplomats was led by first lady Jill Biden to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. The White House has decided against going this February, due to their disapproval surrounding Xinjiang’s humanitarian issues.

“The Biden administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic games given the PRC’s ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. “The athletes on team USA have our full support. We will be behind them 100% as we cheer them on from home.”

Although spectators will not be in physical attendance for the XXIV Winter Olympics, events are set to air live on all NBC networks and digital streaming services like NBC Sports and Peacock. Whether it is through a watch party, family gathering or solo binge, there are plenty of ways to cheer on athletes from Team U.S.A. and enjoy all your favorite Winter Olympic events, as well as some new ones this February.