2022 Olympics: Known Dates, Logo, Schedule Details for Beijing Games

Though the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, are about to begin, work is already well under way for the next edition of the Winter Games in 2022.

Beijing beat off competition from Almaty, Kazakhstan, to serve as the host city for the 23rd Winter Olympics and become the first to hold both the Summer and Winter Games, having previously held the Summer Olympics back in 2008.

The Games will run from Friday, February 4, until Sunday, February 20, with the opening and closing ceremonies taking place at the Bird's Nest once again.

The logos for the Olympic and Paralympic Games were revealed at an unveiling ceremony in December.

Beijing's official Twitter account shared the elegant designs, named "Winter Dream" and "Flying High," respectively:

According to the official Olympics website, the emblems reference Chinese calligraphy and were designed by artist Lin Cunzhen, who co-created the logo for the Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2014, which was held in Nanjing.

The Olympic logo is inspired by the Chinese character for "winter," and is designed to resemble a skater at the top with a skier underneath.

In regards to the colours used, blue "represents dreams, the future and the purity of ice and snow, while red and yellow—the colours of China’s national flag—symbolise passion, youth and vitality."

Meanwhile, the Paralympic emblem is based on the Chinese character for "fly," and it depicts "a wheelchair athlete surging towards the finish line and victory."

Cunzhen's motifs were selected from 4,506 efforts submitted worldwide.

Further schedule details for the Games will emerge as the event draws closer in the coming years. 

After hosting a successful and memorable Summer Olympics in 2008, Beijing will gear up to do the same again in four years' time.