Category Archives: Olympics

A park with a view of Midtown is open to the public again after being fenced off for more than 25 years.

The grassy hill next to a reservoir and water treatment plant in Northwest Atlanta is a spot where visitors can look over streets and trees to enjoy a skyline view. But since the Atlanta Olympics its been off-limits, surrounded by a security fence.

George Koulouris with the community group Friends of Waterworks Greenspace said he found the spot when he moved to the neighborhood about 10 years ago. He and his husband wanted to get a dog, and they wanted to find a place where they could walk him. When they learned the history of the hill with the view, they started advocating to get it opened again.

We had temporary fences go up in 1996, Koulouris said. Its the most permanent temporary thing Ive ever seen in this city.

He spoke at an event Tuesday morning, when the park officially reopened. Mayor Andre Dickens said its been in the works for some time.

Its been a long time coming, Dickens said. I think it will become a destination for all of us. At some point a lot of us will be here hanging out and enjoying a picnic.

Its in a part of the city that needs parks, Elizabeth Hollister with the Upper West Side Community Improvement District said. Her group worked hard to get this one reopened for people in the area.

It was industrial for decades, and so no parks were built, she said. The three surrounding neighborhoods of Berkeley Park and Marietta Street Artery and Blandtown still do not have any City of Atlanta parks. So this two and a half acres is fulfilling an important parks deficit.

Getting to the park, which is at the corner of 17th Street and Howell Mill Road, can still be a little dicey on foot. There arent many sidewalks in the area. But that might be addressed with the citys plan to fund more transportation and sidewalk infrastructure projects with a sales tax on the ballot in Atlanta this year.

And Koulouris and his husband do now have the dog they wanted and a place to bring him; Tucker the basset hound mix was in attendance at the park opening.

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Park closed since the 1996 Olympics reopens in Northwest Atlanta - WABE 90.1 FM

BEIJING, March 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics came to a successful conclusion on the evening of February 20, when the Olympic flame was extinguished during a closing song. Over the course of the games, China.org.cn commissioned a specialist agency to conduct an overseas public opinion survey related to the Beijing Winter Olympics. This poll was conducted among individuals aged 20-69 in the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, South Korea. According to the data, 73.2% of overseas respondents followed the Winter Olympics to varying degrees; respondents largely viewed the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics as being professional, exciting and friendly. It was also found that young people are among the most willing to come to China and learn more about the country.

01.

Over 70% of overseas respondents followed the Beijing Winter Olympics

Those in their 20s and 30s watched most closely

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics garnered worldwide attention, especially from among young people overseas. According to the data, 73.2% of respondents said they had followed the Beijing Winter Olympics to varying degrees. The younger the respondents, the higher the proportion of people who were "very interested" in the Beijing Winter Olympics, with 75% of respondents in their 20s and 30s following the Winter Olympics.

Among those following the Beijing Winter Olympics, 81.4% followed the event on TV, far ahead of other mediums for following the games. The global viewership of the Beijing Winter Olympics reached an all-time high, setting new records in terms of broadcast duration, technology and content production, according to a press conference held for the Beijing Winter Olympics. Based on the data, respondents paid the most attention to "live competitions" as well as "medal tallies and competition results", 53.9% and 50.9%, respectively. Star athletes, the opening and closing ceremonies in addition to life at the Olympic Village were popular aspects of the games.

02.

High praise from overseas: Professional, exciting and friendly were the top key terms

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said in his speech at the Closing Ceremony for the Beijing Winter Olympics that "these were truly exceptional games." In the survey, overseas respondents also said they were deeply impressed with the Beijing Winter Olympics, with the top words associated with the event being professional, exciting and friendly.

According to the data, respondents believe that China's successful hosting of the Olympic Winter Games in the face of COVID-19 has had a positive impact mainly in the areas of "carrying forward the Olympic spirit and promoting unity and solidarity among countries" (32.1%) and "promoting sports and cultural exchanges among countries around the world" (31.7%).

03.

Over 70% of the respondents agreed with the slogan, "Together for a Shared Future"

"We all yearn for love. So let's go hand in hand. Together for a shared future, you and I, we can touch the sky." As the promotional song for the Beijing Winter Olympics slogan, "Together for a Shared Future" was widely sung during the event. Statistics show that "Together for a Shared Future", the slogan for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympic Games, was widely accepted by the international community, with 71.6% of overseas respondents agreeing with the slogan.

"Together for a Shared Future" is China's sincere invitation to the world, conveying the positive expectations of 1.4 billion Chinese people. Sun Weijia, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of Counselors' Office of the State Council (COSC), said in an interview with China.org.cn that the slogan reflects the harmony between Olympic values and the vision for a community with a shared future for mankind. The song is a substantial development on Olympic values by this shared community. It also stands as the best interpretation of the vision for the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Yan Jiarong, Spokeswoman of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, previously said that the slogan "Together for a Shared Future" is the Chinese interpretation of the Olympic motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger- Together". "Together for a Shared Future" is about enabling every sports lover to realize their dreams.

04.

With impressive scientific and technological innovation, the "green Olympics" became a highlight

The high-tech elements of the Beijing Winter Olympics can be seen everywhere. The science and technology along with the green and sustainable concept of environmental protection that made this Olympics possible have received extensive attention and recognition from the international community. The "High-tech Olympics" highlighted the new image of a smart China, with 35.7% of respondents believing that China is a country distinguished by rapid technological development.

Data shows that 54% and 30% of respondents reported positive changes in their impression of China's scientific and technological innovation and ecological protection efforts. 21% of respondents said the Beijing Winter Olympics eased their concerns that China would struggle to meet its environmental commitments, such as carbon emission reduction.

Among those watching the tech highlights of the Beijing Winter Olympics, 56.3% expressed interest in China's green power supply and 45.3% in service robots. In addition to these two items, autonomous vehicles, VR guide system, 5G+8K ultra-HD cloud broadcast, natural CO2 refrigeration systems with nearly zero carbon emissions, and hydrogen-powered vehicles accounted for over 30% of respondents.

05.

Young people are the most willing demographic to come to China and learn more about the country

Respondents from Russia, Italy and the UK have the most favorable opinion of China

Russia (88%), Italy (78%) and the United Kingdom (67%) were the top three countries for respondents with favorable views of China during the Beijing Winter Olympics, followed by the United States and Canada (over 50%). Young people were more likely to have a favorable view of China, with 56% of respondents in their 20s and 61% of those in their 30s.

In addition, the results of the survey show that Russia, Italy and the UK account for 72%, 71% and 49% of respondents who want to come to China and learn more about it after watching the Beijing Winter Olympics. The younger the respondent, the greater willingness they expressed to visit China and learn more about China, with 53% of respondents aged 20-29 willing to visit China in person. From high-tech facilities, safe epidemic prevention measures, diverse cultural experiences, rich food experiences and friendly volunteer services, the Beijing Winter Olympics visually projected an image of China as a whole. Several international respondents expressed their willingness to learn more about China.

06.

Beijing Winter Olympics has boosted China's image

The bias against human rights and democracy in China has been reduced to some extent

The Beijing Winter Olympics has been the first global sporting event held as scheduled since the outbreak of COVID-19. Holding such a grand event on schedule is a landmark achievement and plays a positive role in enhancing China's international image. Among respondents from 10 countries watching the Beijing Winter Olympics, 20% clearly expressed that their impression of China had changed positively.

By watching the Beijing Winter Olympics, respondents were found to have the highest percentage of positive changes in their impression of China's scientific and technological innovation as well as its cultural industry, at 54% and 52%, respectively. In addition, over 40% of respondents reported a positive change in their opinion of China in the areas of economic and financial development, strength of winter sports, achievement of fighting against COVID-19 and epidemic prevention, transportation and travel, etc.

Additionally, the Winter Olympics helped dispel misconceptions about China. Shi Anbin, a professor from the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University, argued that the Beijing Winter Olympics broke the "mudslinging" common to certain Western media outlets by taking advantage of participatory and immersive means of "third party communication". This included individuals, such as Eileen Gu, Su Yiming and Yuzuru Hanyu, the adorable Beijing Winter Olympics mascot Bing Dwen Dwen, the "robot bartender" as well as videos showing players enjoying meals and interactions with grassroots volunteers.

In this survey, when asked, "From your point of view, which misunderstanding about China could be eliminated through Beijing Winter Olympics?", the highest percentage of respondents answered, "worries about the human rights situation in China" and "the lack of democracy in China". In addition, overseas respondents' misconceptions of "China struggling to meet its environmental commitment to reduce carbon emissions" and the "China threat theory" have decreased to some extent, thanks to the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Sports diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy and cultural exchanges have played a positive role in promoting China's international image. The Beijing Winter Olympics served as a window to understand China and allowed the world to know more about the real and lovely China.

The survey was conducted by China.org.cn and ePanel. Allowing for the number of medals each country won at the last Winter Olympics, as well as the country's population, economic influence, intercontinental distribution and other factors, overseas citizens aged 20-69 from 10 countries were randomly sampled from the international professional survey sample database. The questionnaire design, sampling, survey and analysis were conducted in accordance with the international market research standards and ethics of the ESOMAR. The survey results reflect objectively overseas respondents' feelings and views on the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinaorgcn-survey-reveals-overseas-opinion-of-beijing-winter-olympics-301497653.html

SOURCE China.org.cn

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China.org.cn: Survey Reveals Overseas Opinion of Beijing Winter Olympics - 69News WFMZ-TV

The success of Japan's women's curling team at the Beijing Winter Olympics has boosted tax revenues for the team's hometown in Hokkaido, northernmost Japan.

As the team, known by its club name Loco Solare, advanced in the curling competition, Kitami, the city where the team's hometown Tokoro is located, garnered 71,398,000 yen (about $620,000) in revenues in February, some 3.6-fold up from a year earlier, under Japan's "hometown tax" program. Under the program, taxpayers make monetary donations to municipalities and get a variety of thank-you gifts and a tax break in return.

A resident of Tokoro buys a special stamp set featuring Loco Solare.

Daily donations averaged 1.88 million yen during Feb. 1 to 17, and 3.41 million yen during Feb. 18 to March 1. The team advanced to the semifinals on Feb. 17 and took the silver medal on Feb. 20.

The surge in revenues was also seen in 2018 when the team won bronze at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

As thank-you gifts for this year's donors, the city prepared tumblers and towels with the logo of Loco Solare.

Japan Post Co., meanwhile, put out special stamp sets in late February featuring the team. It offered 2,000 sets at 67 post offices in northeastern Hokkaido, and they sold out on the initial day.

The Hokkaido Shimbun Press

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Success of Japan's curling team at Beijing Olympics boosts hometown revenue - Kyodo News Plus

(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) Officiating an Olympic game isn't something everyone gets to do, but one Kansas City ref did just that.

Going to the Olympics can be a dream for the world's best athletes but it's also a dream for one Kansas City native.

When I work here in the states, I work for the American Hockey League, which is the AAA level to the NHL. So professional hockey, and when I'm in Germany working I work in their top professional league, which is called the DEL, Stephen Reneau said.

Stephen is a full time hockey referee and his career has taken him across the world

The opportunity of a lifetime came recently, he went to Beijing to officiate in the Olympics.

I was put on what's called a standby list with all the COVID protocols and everything that was going on in the world. Basically, two days before I left to go to Beijing, I got the phone call saying somebody tested positive, and I was going so it was a wild 48 hours, Reneau said.

While in China he officiated games between Finland, Slovakia, Germany and China.

It hasn't really said in yet that I even went, It was such a quick turnaround that I was getting to go. So I don't think it's hit me that I've actually even gone to the Olympics, Reneau said.

He says this career has given him the chance to meet some big names in the sport.

You know, at some of my world championships there's been NHL players so I've got to be on the ice with Alexander Ovechkin and Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby. So pretty much every top name that you hear in the NHL life. I've been fortunate enough to be on the ice with, Reneau said.

Stephen says his experience at the Olympics is something he'll be able to look back on and be proud of.

Slowly but surely, I think it'll settle in, you know, at least be able to, you know, look back at it and enjoy the experience that I had, Reneau said.

Just a week after he returned from Beijing he left for Germany to ref some more hockey.

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KC hockey referee goes to the Olympics | Community - KQ2.com

Viewership of the Beijing Olympics this year declined dramatically from the 2018 winter games in Pyeongchang, but thats not stopping Delta Air Lines from going all-in on the global sporting event through the next decade.

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic broke out across the globe, Deltasigned an eight-year commitmentto sponsor the Olympics and Paralympics with NBCUniversal as a founding partner of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. As part of the deal, Delta will sponsor Team USA, starting from Beijing 2022 and running through Paris 2024, Milan 2026 and LA 2028.

We are the founding sponsor of LA 28 and were working towards those games, said Molly Battin, SVP of global brand marketing at Delta. But in the time between now and then, we are the official airline of Team USA, and we're really getting behind the athletes.

As a top-tier sponsor, Delta faced difficult narratives around the Beijing games, from the spike of the Omicron variant to humanitarian crises in China that led to diplomatic boycotts from democratic countries. But, according to Battin, leaning into stories about athlete resilience and triumph aligned well with Deltas brand values.

So much of our brand is our people: how they show up, the humanity they bring and what they do everyday to be there for our customers, she said. There are so many parallel stories between our people and what these athletes do day in and out.

This year, Delta kicked off the partnership with a sendoff party for Team USA, whose athletes werent able to bring their parents, coaches or other support systems to the games due to strict COVID-19 regulations.

As the official airline of Team USA, Delta designed and painted an aircraft to take the athletes safely to Beijing, hosting a red carpet event aired on NBCUs pre-coverage of the opening ceremony that was picked up on theToday Show. Delta followed up with a similar sendoff for Team USA Paralympians a few weeks later.

Deltas commitment to the Olympics includes a long-term media partnership with NBCU, which holds the nearly $8 billion rights to the Games through 2032. The media network, using its One Platform philosophy, offers its founding partners white-glove service across its portfolio to get the most value out of the Games, said Dan Lovinger, president, ad sales and partnerships at NBCU.

For Delta, this included access to NBCU talent such as Seth Myers, who filmed a live ad for the brand, as well as exclusive placements and co-branded promotions on NBC Sports leading up to the Olympics.

We tried to use a bunch of touchpoints that back up their shorter-term goals, Lovinger said.

Deltas partnership with the Olympics will culminate at the LA games, where it will make its biggest splash as a strategic play in an important market. In 2020, the airline announced a$1.8 billion investmentin LAX airport to modernize and upgrade its terminals and make the city a major Delta hub.

Delta is one of the first brands to sign as an Olympics founding partner, a new premium tier offering from NBCU. Founding partners work with NBCU, the LA Olympic Organizing Committee and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee to enhance the Olympic movement and create meaningful games that will leave LA in a better place, Lovinger said. Other founding partners so far include Comcast and Salesforce.

We're in the business of making sure that, throughout the next seven years, we're connected with Delta every day, week, month and year to manage shorter-term objectives across our portfolio that leverage the partnership they've signed on to.

For NBCU, the challenge in delivering value will be to fight against falling viewership of the Games, especially on linear TV. Beijing drew the lowest U.S. ratings ever, declining more than 40% over the last Winter Games.

Lovinger argues that because NBCUs Olympics rights cover all content regardless of the distribution platform, the company is in a good position to capture migrating viewership. He admits, however, that theres a need to reawaken the movement after two consecutive games that took place during a pandemic with no fans and a long time difference in Asia.

No matter how people are consuming [the Games], we're the place to come to for the ability to advertise, he said. But we have to continue to make sure the Olympics matter to people and are relevant.

Battin also has high hopes for 2024 and beyond.

We're optimistic that, as fans and people come back, we're going to start seeing renewed interest and higher ratings, she said.

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Why Delta is doubling down on the Olympics through 2028 - Campaign US

As I watched the athletes perform at the recent Winter Olympic Games, I could only imagine their tremendous desire, determination and dedication, not to mention commitment, enthusiasm and mental toughness. They set goals and prepared. They had discipline.

It's the same in business.

It doesn't matter whether you are pursuing success in business, sports, the arts or life in general. The difference between wishing and accomplishing is discipline.

Discipline is all about setting goals, figuring out a schedule to achieve those goals and then following your plan.

Discipline turns ability into achievement. Dreams may get you started, but discipline keeps you going. Talent without discipline is nothing more than wasted opportunity.

Zig Ziglar said, "It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action,and discipline that enabled us to follow through."

I believe discipline is the difference between good and great.

Most people aim to do right; they just fail to pull the trigger. For whatever reason, they just don't have the wherewithal to finish the job. They lack discipline.

Good intentions aren't enough. People have good intentions when they set a goal to do something, but then they miss a deadline or a workout. Suddenly it gets a lot easier to miss again -- and again and again.

"Discipline is the foundation upon which all success is built," said the late motivational speaker Jim Rohn. "Lack of discipline inevitably leads to failure. Discipline is the bridge between thought and accomplishment ... the glue that binds inspiration to achievement ... the magic that turns financial necessity into the creation of an inspired work of art."

Whenever I eyeball a resume for a management job at my envelope company, I look for evidence of self-discipline. As candidates have prepared themselves for past jobs, did they identify and master three to five key self-disciplines essential to future success?

I'm looking for specific examples beyond just showing up for work. Did they take leadership on difficult projects that required developing new skills? Were they flexible when original plans had to be adjusted to conform to changing needs? Could they put ego aside when others had better ideas? Were they able to maintain control when challenged by customers or co-workers?

Keeping focused when things are going well is often as difficult as doing so when glitches surface. Self-discipline is what finishes the job. Managers especially need to model self-discipline so that their teams observe how it's done and can follow their example.

And employees aren't the only ones who see discipline in action. Customers take notice of how organizations conduct themselves. If they see a sloppy operation, they assume shoddy results. If they see a well-oiled machine, their confidence in the final product increases.

Discipline means you are prepared to do the things you don't always want to do in order to get the results you need to get. As difficult as that sounds, consider the alternative. Allow yourself to take the easy way out, and that's exactly what you will find: the way out the door.

Discipline isn't optional. It's an investment in your future.

Here's a story to drive the point home. A family was gathered for dinner one night when the youngest son announced that he had just enlisted in the Army. There were audible gasps around the table, then some laughter, as his older brothers shared their disbelief that he could handle this new situation.

"Oh, come on, quit joking," snickered one.

"You didn't really do that, did you?" asked another. "You would never get through basic training."

Finally, his father spoke up. "It's going to take a lot of discipline. Are you ready for that?"

The new recruit looked to his mother for help, but she was just gazing at him. When she finally spoke, she simply asked, "Do you really plan to make your own bed every morning?"

Mackay's Moral: Keep your head and heart going in the right direction and you'll never have to worry about your feet.

Harvey Mackay is the author of the New York Times best-seller "Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive." He can be reached at http://www.harveymackay.com , by emailing harvey@mackay.com or by writing him at MackayMitchell Envelope Co., 2100 Elm St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.

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From the Olympics to business, discipline is the key! - Rochester Post Bulletin

NEW YORK (AP) The final scores are in, and NBC is no doubt happy to put the Beijing Winter Olympics in the rear-view mirror.

The games reached an average combined audience of 11.4 million people in prime time on NBC, the USA cable network and Peacock streaming service, the network said. Thats the lowest-ever American audience for any Olympics, and down 42% from the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018.

For NBC alone, the prime time telecasts reached an average of 9.3 million viewers, or 48% down from South Korea, the Nielsen company said.

The games never really captured the public imagination, and were hurt by COVID-19 restrictions that had most of NBCs announcers working half a world away in Connecticut.

In a diminished world for broadcast television, however, NBC beat every other network in prime time during the Games duration. Only pro football can say the same this season. The Peacock streaming service, which will undoubtedly play a bigger role in future Olympics, had its best stretch of usage since the service began, NBC said.

Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Universal television and streaming, said Peacock delivered a user experience that was greatly enhanced from just six months ago during the COVID-delayed Tokyo Summer Olympics.

For the week, NBC averaged 7.2 million viewers in prime time. CBS had 3 million, ABC had 2.7 million, Fox had 2 million, Univision had 1.5 million, Ion Television had 1.3 million and Telemundo had 1 million.

Fox News Channel was the most popular cable network in prime time, averaging 2.42 million viewers. TNT had 2.01 million, MSNBC had 1.05 million, HGTV had 1.02 million and Hallmark had 968,000.

ABCs World News Tonight won the evening news ratings race with an average of 8.7 million viewers. NBCs Nightly News, with virtually none of the typical ratings bump that an Olympics delivers, had 7 million viewers and the CBS Evening News had 5.3 million.

For the week of Feb., 14-20, the top 20 prime-time programs, their networks and viewerships:

1. Winter Olympics (Tuesday), NBC, 8.71 million.

2. Winter Olympics (Thursday, 8:30 to 11 p.m.), NBC, 8.53 million.

3. Winter Olympics (Monday), NBC, 7.89 million.

4. Winter Olympics (Friday, 9 to 11 p.m.), NBC, 7.25 million.

5. 60 Minutes, CBS, 6.98 million.

6. Winter Olympics (Wednesday, 8:30 to 11 p.m.), NBC, 6.94 million.

7. Winter Olympics (Saturday, 9 to 11 p.m.), NBC, 6.77 million.

8. Winter Olympics (Thursday, 8 to 8:30 p.m.), NBC, 6.74 million.

9. Winter Olympics (Friday, 8 to 9 p.m.), NBC, 6.72 million.

10. Winter Olympics Closing Ceremonies, NBC, 6.57 million.

11. Winter Olympics (Wednesday, 8 to 8:30 p.m.), NBC, 6.42 million.

12. Winter Olympics (Saturday, 8 to 9 p.m.), NBC, 5.86 million.

13. NBA All-Star Game, TNT, 5.43 million

14. Daytona 500 Post Race, Fox, 5.42 million.

15. 911: Lone Star, Fox, 4.95 million.

16. Jeopardy! College Championship (Thursday), ABC, 4.82 million.

17. Jeopardy! College Championship (Friday), ABC, 4.73 million.

18. The Price is Right Valentine Show, CBS, 4.66 million.

19. Jeopardy! College Championship (Wednesday), ABC, 4.64 million.

20. Young Sheldon, CBS, 4.35 million.

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NBC's scores are in: Record low Olympics ratings | AP News

Missed the 2022 Winter Olympics closing ceremony? See all of the top moments here in pictures.

Silver medallist USA's Jessie Diggins celebrates her silver medal during the cross-country skiing women's 30km mass start victory ceremony at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, Beijing.

Gold medallist Therese Johaug of Team Norway, center, silver medallist Jessie Diggins of Team United States, left, and bronze medallist Kerttu Niskanen of Team Finland pose with their medals during the Women's 30km Mass Start medal ceremony at the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Members of Team USA make their way into the Beijing National Stadium at the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022 in Beijing.

Members of Team United States make their way into Beijing National Stadium during the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Flag bearers Elana Meyers Taylor of Team USA, center, and Nathan Crumpton of Team American Samoa (second right) walks in the Athletes Parade during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing National Stadium on Feb. 20, 2022 in Beijing.

A firework display is seen above the stadium during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing, China.

A firework display is seen above the stadium during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing, China.

The Olympic flame is extinguished during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

The Olympic Cauldron is seen alongside the flags of the competing countries right before it is extinguished during the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022 in Beijing.

The Olympic Cauldron is seen alongside the flags of the competing countries right before it is extinguished during the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Guiseppe Sala, Mayor of Milano city and Gianpetro Ghedina, Mayor of Cortina d' Ampezzo City wave the Olympic flag during the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

The flags of China, Greece and Italy sway in the wind during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 20, 2022.

A map of Italy is reflected during the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing, China. Italy will be the next country to host the Winter Olympic Games in 2026.

Children representing Milan and Cortina hug a globe as part of the handover ceremony during the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Children representing Milan and Cortina hug a globe as part of the handover ceremony during the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Performers dance farewell with the "Moment of Rememberance, The Message of a Willow Twig" during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Performers dance farewell with the "Moment of Rememberance, The Message of a Willow Twig" during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Performers dance farewell with the "Moment of Rememberance, The Message of a Willow Twig" during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Performers dance farewell with the "Moment of Rememberance, The Message of a Willow Twig" during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Flag bearers make their way into the Beijing National Stadium during the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022 in Beijing.

Delegations gather inside the stadium during the closing ceremony at the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022 in Beijing.

BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 20: Gold medallist Alexander Bolshunov of Team ROC (C), Silver medallist Ivan Yakimushkin of Team ROC (L) and Bronze medallist Simen Hegstad Krueger of Team Norway (R) pose with their medals during the Men's Cross-Country Skiing 50km Mass Start Free medal ceremony during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing National Stadium on February 20, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Members from the French and Japanese delegations dance at the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022 in Beijing.

Members of Team Canada make their way into the Beijing National Stadium during the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

The delegations of Canada and France enter the stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 20, 2022.

Tingyu Gao of Team China waves the flag of China during the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing, China.

Skates, inspired by the Chinese zodiac signs, carry performers at the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022 in Beijing.

Performers riding floats based on the twelve animals of the zodiac dance during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony at the 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing National Stadium, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Children perform during the Closing Ceremony at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

The Olympic Cauldron is seen inside of the Beijing National Stadium as performers dance during the 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Children perform during the Closing Ceremony at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

The flag of China and the flag of the IOC are raised during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, Feb. 20, 2022 in Beijing, China.

Children perform during the Closing Ceremony at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Children bearing snowflakes wave at the audience during the Closing Ceremony at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.

Children carrying snowflake lanterns gather under the snowflake cauldron during the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, at the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, on Feb. 20, 2022.

Xi Jinping, President of China, waves to spectators during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing National Stadium on Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing, China.

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Pictures: See Highlights From 2022 Olympics Closing Ceremony ...

Reagan Dibble took first prize in the wrist carry at a local competition for students in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. He says it was good practice for the statewide Junior Native Youth Olympic Games. (Emily Dibble)

The Native Youth Olympic Games test athletic abilities required to survive in Alaska.The games were traditionally used to build the strength, endurance and teamwork needed for subsistence activities like hunting and foraging.

This years Junior Native Youth Olympic Games are virtual, with nearly 300 participants sending in videos of themselves competing in the events.

One of those competitors is nine-year-old Reagan Dibble. He and his classmates at Machetanz Elementary in Wasilla have been practicing for weeks.

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Dibble competes in the wrist carry event. During the game, he hooks one wrist over a pole, grabs his arm with his other hand and holds himself off the ground. Two other boys hold onto each side of the pole and walk forward. The athlete who stays suspended for the longest time wins.

Last weekend, Dibble competed at a local event for students in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. His previous record had been 19 seconds. That day, he held on for 43 seconds.

On Thursday morning, he filmed his video for the state competition at his school gym.

Dibble explained that the wrist carry was a traditional way to honor a hunted animal. His mom, Emily Dibble, said those types of lessons are what make the games special.

Its one more thing we love about living in Alaska, she said. They really do cherish their Native culture and immerse everybody in it, and I find that unique and special for these kids growing up here.

Reagan Dibble said these games foster more teamwork than his other favorite sport, hockey.

I like how you can encourage others and coach everybody, because youre all on the same team, he said. Playing hockey, its kind of like youre one-on-one, and this is all together.

Thats what made Nicole Johnson fall in love with the games, too. She grew up in Nome, and first tried the two-foot high kick in fifth grade. She went on to hold the record for that event for 25 years. Now, shes the head official for the Native Youth Olympic Games. She says its a different kind of competition.

Youll see the athletes encouraging each other to go harder and higher, even if they are going harder and higher and further than you are, she said. You coach your opponents, you coach other teams, you help other coaches. It creates a community of friends and family for life.

Winners of the Alaskan high kick and kneel jump were announced on Feb. 14, and the awards ceremony for the seal hop and two-foot high kick will be livestreamed on the Cook Inlet Tribal Councils Facebook page on Monday.

Registration for the remaining junior events the wrist carry, one-foot high kick and scissor broad jump ends on March 1, with submissions closing on March 6. That award ceremony will be held on March 14.

This years senior games to be held in-person for the first time since the pandemic began are slated for April 21-23 at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

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'You're all on the same team': Junior Native Youth Olympics bring Alaskan kids together - Alaska Public Media News

The piece opens by setting the stage, cutting between diverse landscapessand, cracking iceand close-ups of details in a hotel room, which look like landscape, too. Bobsled athlete Dawn Richardson-Wilson walks in, sits on the bed, and lifts her official Winter Olympics 2022 jacket onto her lap. Her quiet examination of its details kicks off both the soundtrack (Hi, where are you from?Canada) and spools out the ad, almost as if it's a reverie.

But really, it's an ode to both people and place. We traverse time, through what seem like memories of childhood, and place. Other athletes featured in the spot include Liam Hickey (Para ice hockey), John Tavares (ice hockey), and Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (figure skating).

The list of speakers, puncturing the background, is actually even longer, their diversity and scope illustrating something of the bigness of a country known mostly for maple syrup and a prime minister who, I guess, takes his shirt off a lot:

"Feel Canada" builds on Lululemon's overall "Feel" campaign. It was given life by director Natalie Rae and DOP Evan Prosofsky. In January, Rae worked with indigenous filmmaker Tim Myles and Toronto-based director Sophia Smith to capture winter footage at the Saugeen First Nations in Southampton, Ontario. Casting and logistics were led by community elder Jennifer Kewageshig, who operates an indigenous youth film program at a local training center she helps run.

Toward the end of the work, the mosaic of voices coalesce as they approach some kind of epiphany. "What we need is a society where people treasure difference," someone says, and moments later, another voice adds, "When we stand together as one, we are one voice and one nation."

People, dressed in the official jacket, dance, hands nearly meeting against the skyline. Richardson-Wilson smiles, lying back in her bed. Water cuts between trees, as if to convey something: This looks like a divide, but isn't. A constellation of elements can compose wholes, not fractions. It's a tension, but also a collaboration that we are forever working on balancing.

"Feel Canada."

Client: lululemonCampaign: FEEL CANADALaunch Date: 2/3/22Agency: Droga5 NYCo-Chief Creative Officers: Tim Gordon & Felix RichterGlobal Head of Art: Alexander NowakExecutive Creative Director: Thom GloverGroup Creative Director: Marybeth LedesmaSenior Copywriter: Temnete SebhatuSenior Art Director: Joe RussomanoSenior Copywriter: Ted MeyerSenior Art Director: Jason GoldCopywriter: Emily ChangArt Director: Stefan FolioSenior Project Manager: Janelle Andrea JordanExecutive Producer, Film: Mike HasinoffExecutive Producer, Film: Gulshan JafferySenior Music Supervisor: Mike LadmanSenior Business Affairs Manager: Ann Marie TurbittSenior Talent Manager: Sunny ValenciaGroup Strategy Director: Cecilia DiazBrand Strategist: Sarah KhanGroup Communications Strategy Director: Ben NilsenSenior Communications Strategist: Cherish LeeExecutive Group Account Director: Frank RenwickAccount Director: Ola AbayomiAccount Supervisor: Katie RochfordAccount Manager: Arianna Bernstein

Client: lululemonChief Brand Officer: Nikki NeuburgerSVP, Global Brand Creative: Ravi HampoleVP, Global Brand Management: Deborah HyunSenior Director, Global Brand Management: Devin GallaherSenior Creative Director, Studio: Courtney DavisCreative Director: Jason EffmannCreative Director: Sofia PonaArt Director: Andrew PassasSenior Brand Manager: Quinn InghamDirector, Global Brand Marketing: Crystal RocabadoBrand + Creative Operations:Manager of Brand Production: Meryl RekertProducer, Brand & Community: Matthew SySenior Project Manager, Special Projects: Bea SungaManager, Brand Project Management: Jen (Anstee) HigginsProduction Company: Object & Animal (US) & OPC (Canada)Director: Natalie RaeDOP: Evan ProsofskyExecutive Producer: Emi Stewart & James Cunningham (Object& Animal), Harland Weiss (OPC)Producer: Ed CallaghanChoreographer: Carlo AtienzaChoreography Collaborator: OURO Collective2nd Unit Director: Sophia Smith2nd Unit DOP: Ben DawsonProduction Service Company: Filmgroup (Vancouver)Executive Producer: Nathan MilesHead of Production: Renee PoulinSaugeen Shores Production Company: OPCCo-Director: Tim Myles, Sophia SmithDOP: Ben DawsonExecutive Producer: Harland WeissProducer: Jeff ChiuEditorial: Work EditorialEditor (Anthem & Teaser): Ben JordanEditor (Athlete Stories): Theo MercadoAssistant Editor: Fatos Marishta, Chris WronkaExecutive Producer: Erica ThompsonHead of Production: Alejandra AlarconProducer: Weston Ver Steeg, Sarah CassellResearch & Clearances: Tammy Egan (Pitch & Clear)Melissa LaverdureHugh John MurrayLicensing: Mariola Kalinska (Greenlight, BENGroup)Post Production, Color: MPCColorist: Ricky GausisColor Assist: Sam ZiaieSenior Executive Producer: Meghan Lang BiceProducer: Ivana BanhAssociate Producer: Alex ZhaoPost Production, VFX: Alter EgoHead of VFX: Darren AchimExecutive Producer: Hilda PereiraSenior VFX Producer: Bobbi DedmanVFX On-Set Supervisor: Shervin ShoghianVFX Artist: Darren Achim, Igor Boros, Sebastian BorosVFX Assistant: Saba Zahir, Nupur DesaiMusic: 'Clair De Lune' - Flight Facilities feat. Christine HobergSound: Design & MixBalladSound Designer & Mixer: Philip Nicolai Flindt, Adrian AureliusExecutive Producer: Gregers Maersk Moeller

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Lululemon's Team Canada Ad Was One of the Triumphs of the Olympics - Muse by Clio