Winter Olympics opening ceremony live updates: Beijing 2022 underway with a bang as athletes launch Games

The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are here, set to be launched with the pageantry of the opening ceremony.

Follow every moment in our live blog.

To leave a comment on the blog, please log in or sign up for an ABC account.

By Simon Smale

Nĭhǎo everybody! Simon Smale signing on from the Zhangjiakou Mountain Press Centre, about 190km north west of Beijing, where everything is kicking off very shortly.

I'll be popping in and out the blog to help Andrew out and to add some colour from the ceremony, albeit from a distance.

In the daily Games paper, Winter Olympian, director Zhang Yimou says people watching need to expect the unexpected, including a «groundbreaking» cauldron lighting method.

He told the paper, which is put together by China Daily, that «it's a great honour to direct the opening ceremony for the second time» and that he hopes to «create some wonderful moments that will go down in history».

Blimey, doesn't expect much, does he? Although with his track record from the 2008 ceremony, it's definitely warranted.

By Andrew Mcgarry

Last time round in Pyeongchang, Australia finished with two silvers and one bronze medal.

Our correspondent on the ground in Beijing, Simon Smale, has had a look at the most likely sources of medals in Beijing for the Australian team.

In fact, the Games haven’t even started, but one of his picks, women’s moguls skier Jakara Anthony, has already stamped her form, qualifying top for Sunday’s final.

For the first time in Olympic history, this year’s Games will have the monobob (bobsleigh for just one person), and Bree Walker is a decent chance to crack a podium spot.

Others in with a shot include triple world champion in the Snowboard half-pipe, Scotty James, aerials duo Belle Brockhoff and Laura Peel, and