Winter Games Research Articles

Modeling and analysis of Alpine skiing downhill based on the DPAS model considering four-way inhomogeneous environmental winds with digital twins at downhill course of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games

In Alpine skiing, the influence of the environment wind on the athlete is crucial. To accurately analyze the coupling effect of environment wind speed, wind direction, and the athlete’s skiing process, this paper establishes the kinematic equations of the athlete based on Newtonian classical mechanics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and proposes a discretization method for the course. Simulation results were obtained by using CFD to obtain digital twins for the course and its surroundings. The simulation results were also used as input to the wind parameters to analyze the athletes’ sliding performance. The Downhill Process in Alpine Skiing (DPAS) model was constructed to validate the actual downhill course in the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. An analytical framework for downhill skiing with way inhomogeneous winds was demonstrated to be a good simulation and validation of our analytical framework, proving its good simulatability and reliability. The downhill process is also subdivided into four phases: start-up acceleration phase, core acceleration phase, intermittent acceleration phase, and endurance sprint phase, based on the velocity-time curve derived from the actual course simulation. Tactical skiing strategies for skiers to improve their performance are proposed for the different stages of the process. We believe that the DPAS model can also be applied to other parts of Alpine skiing such as slalom, giant slalom, and super-G, and that the results can be used to suggest tactical strategies to improve performance.

Response of organic aerosol in Beijing to emission reductions during the XXIV Olympic Winter Games

Organic aerosol (OA) serves as a crucial component of fine particulate matter. However, the response of OA to changes in anthropogenic emissions remains unclear due to its complexity. The XXIV Olympic Winter Games (OWG) provided real atmospheric experimental conditions on studying the response of OA to substantial emission reductions in winter. Here, we explored the sources and variations of OA based on the observation of aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) combined with positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis in urban Beijing during the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. The influences of meteorological conditions on OA concentrations were corrected by CO and verified by deweathered model. The CO-normalized primary OA (POA) concentrations from traffic, cooking, coal and biomass burning during the OWG decreased by 39.8 %, 23.2 % and 65.0 %, respectively. Measures controlling coal and biomass burning were most effective in reducing POA during the OWG. For the CO-normalized concentration of secondary OA (SOA), aqueous-phase related oxygenated OA decreased by 51.8 % due to the lower relative humidity and emission reduction in precursors, while the less oxidized‑oxygenated OA even slightly increased as the enhanced atmospheric oxidation processes may partially offset the efficacy of emission control. Therefore, more targeted reduction of organic precursors shall be enhanced to lower atmospheric oxidation capacity and mitigate SOA pollution.

The Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Sport and Change-Event on Athlete Performance

The study aims to investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on sports, its industry and competitions, and its impact on the psychological state of athletes and sports fans. After the world suffered from the spread of the Corona pandemic “Covid 19” and its various effects on humans, as it was classified by the World Health Organization as one of the pandemic diseases that spread quickly, widely and rapidly and that led to human losses. Covid 19 led to the adoption of a set of health measures, the most important of which was quarantine as a preventive measure aimed at limiting the spread of infection, and this led to huge losses in global markets, the energy sector, the economy, tourism and entertainment. The sports field was not excluded from these repercussions, as it is an important sector on the economic, sports and social levels, the sports sector has been particularly affected by the Covid -19 crisis in a way we have not seen before, with all physical activities, face-to-face, and all team sports suddenly being restricted indefinitely in many countries. And this change is significant for most male and female athletes professionals and non-professionals competing in various tournaments, and as a result, sports organizations have had to restructure themselves to provide a service to their users. The coronavirus pandemic has caused the biggest disruption to the global sporting calendar since World War II worldwide with varying degrees of postponement of sporting events so that spectators do not have matches to watch and players do not have matches to play. Turkmenistan, Belarus, Nicaragua, and Tajikistan are among the countries that have continued to hold professional sports contests as scheduled. The Arctic Winter Games have been canceled for 2020, whereas the ASEAN Olympic Games have been rescheduled for 2020.

Predictions of air quality and challenges for eliminating air pollution during the 2022 Olympic Winter Games

Scientifically and efficiently ensuring good air quality for important events is an issue of concern to the government. In addition to analysis based on historical data, advanced prediction before an event is essential for the government having ample time to take effective actions to improve air quality during the event period. Taking “the 2022 Olympic Winter Games (OWG)” as a typical case, a chemical transport model coupled with a tracer-tagged module was used to evaluate the air quality and source apportionment of ambient pollutants in the OWG host cities under historical and predicted meteorological conditions. Driven by the downscaling of meteorological fields from an operational real-time climate forecast system, the potential ability of air quality forecasting three months ahead was investigated, which was meaningful for designing control strategies. Sensitive simulations indicated that under unfavorable meteorological conditions, such as those during February 2014, both Beijing and Zhangjiakou faced a high risk of experiencing haze episodes, even based on current anthropogenic emission intensity. The contribution of the joint prevention and control region to Beijing and Zhangjiakou would become larger under worse meteorological conditions, which favor heavy air pollution. The source apportionment results indicated that strengthened emission control in cities including Beijing, Zhangjiakou and south of Beijing (Baoding, Langfang, Tianjin, and Tangshan) is effective for reducing haze episodes in the host cities. There is still a long way to make accurate daily fine particulate matter predictions on a seasonal-scale in advance; however, it could capture the trends in air quality in host cities around the OWG period three months ahead. The comparison of observations and predictions confirmed and highlighted the role of regional emission controls on the realization of the “OWG blue”.

Pushing forward: exploring the impact of the sitting position on muscle activation patterns and force generation during paralympic sit-cross-country skiing.

Paralympic cross-country sit-skiing is a discipline of the Paralympic Winter Games where athletes use a specialized sledge. Athletes are classified into different groups according to their functional abilities. The double poling technique is used to push the sledge forward and generate speed. Different sitting positions in the sledge are used based on the individual impairment. To date there is no data available on the effects of these different positions on muscle activation patterns. The aim of this study was to analyze the muscle activation patterns of the trunk and upper body muscles in relation to the poling force. Nine Able-bodied athletes were tested on a treadmill at submaximal speed in three sitting positions for 4 min in a flat and uphill condition. Sitting positions included a "knee-high" position, a "knee-low" position, and a "neutral" position with the sitting platform parallel to the ground. Unilateral pole forces and surface EMG from three trunk muscles, two upper limb muscles, and one lower limb muscle were recorded simultaneously on the dominate side. Data were segmented into individual cycles and mean values and standard deviations calculated for each subject and condition. Statistical analyses, including a Friedman test and Bonferroni correction, were applied to examine significant differences across different sitting positions. Our findings demonstrate that while certain muscle groups such as the erector spinae and triceps show consistent patterns of activation across different sitting positions, there is considerable variability among individual athletes, suggesting individualized strategies for task execution. Overall, force application was most efficient in the "knee low" position with 691.33 ± 148.83 N and least efficient in the "knee high" position with 582.81 ± 115.11 N. Testing impaired athletes will be the next step in understanding the neurophysiological aspects of the poling movement. This experimental protocol provides a basis for understanding the movement of paralympic cross-country sit-skiing in greater depth.

A Study on the Sustainability of Large Sporting Events and Host Cities-The Harbin Asian Winter Games as an Example

A Study on the Sustainability of Large Sporting Events and Host Cities-The Harbin Asian Winter Games as an Example

Characteristics of fine particulate matter in Linyi during the 24th Olympic winter Games: An insight into the components, sources, transport pathways, and source distribution

To maintain air quality and mitigate pollution during the 24th Olympic Winter Games, strict control measures were implemented in Beijing and surrounding areas, including Linyi. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) sampling was conducted in the urban area of Linyi between November 10th, 2021, and February 20th, 2022. This sampling period was divided into a no-control period (NCP) and a control period (CP). The PM2.5 concentration decreased by 25.0% during the CP, whereas the atmospheric oxidation increased. This led to the formation of secondary components of PM2.5. Although the conversion rate of the precursors into secondary components was increased during the CP, the nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) concentrations were reduced due to emission reduction. Elemental carbon (EC) and primary organic carbon concentrations were also decreased, whereas the organic carbon (OC)/EC ratio and proportion of secondary organic carbon in PM2.5 increased. Total detected inorganic element concentrations decreased by 23.6% during the CP. The results of source apportionment revealed that secondary sources were the leading PM2.5 contributors during both periods. Vehicle pollution prevention and control should be strengthened as no restrictions on private-car travel during the CP. Controlling combustion and industrial sources had a significant impact on air quality during the CP. Biomass burning and industrial emissions declined from 20.7% to 16.1% (NCP) to 2.0% and 9.1% (CP), respectively. Backward trajectories revealed that air masses largely originated from local regions during both periods, with the highest PM2.5 concentrations found in air masses from the north (NCP) and east (CP) of Linyi. Potential source regions were also identified. The location of these regions showed that local and regional collaborative control of PM2.5 is urgently needed, particularly in northern and southern Linyi (NCP) and eastern Linyi (CP).

Exploring Predictors of Team Performance in Curling Championships: An Investigation of Factors Predicting Success

Curling is one of the most popular sports of the Olympic Winter Games. As strategy is very important for curling, it is called “chess on the ice”. Given the exponential surge in sports-related data, the analysis of game performance has assumed paramount importance, as it provides a valuable avenue for improving overall athletic performance. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of some parameters on championship performance of elite level curling teams. The data used in this study were taken from the World Curling Federation Historical Results database. World Mens/Womens Curling Championships (2021 – 2022 – 2023) and European Mens/Womens Curling Championships results (2019 – 2021 – 2022) included in the study. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the extent to which the independent variables, namely Draw Shot Challenge distance, shot performance, stolen points for, stolen points against, hammer efficiency, force efficiency, and difference of generated and given points, explained team success. Statistical Package for Social Sciences 24.0 software used for statistical analyses. The results revealed an R-value of 0.902 and an adjusted R-squared value of 0.804. In the study investigating the factors influencing team success in World and European Curling Championships, it was concluded that the difference of points generated and given points, Draw Shot Challenge distance, and hammer use efficiency predicts championship success.

Injury and illness among Norwegian Olympic athletes during preparation for five consecutive Summer and Winter Games

ObjectiveTo describe the patterns of health problems among Norwegian Olympic candidates during their preparations for five consecutive Olympic Games (London 2012, Sochi 2014, Rio de Janeiro 2016, PyeongChang 2018 and...

Exploring the Epidemiology of Injuries in Athletes of the Olympic Winter Games: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study sought to provide a comprehensive assessment of the incidence of sports injuries among athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games and to investigate contributing factors. We gathered injury data from athletes participating in the recent four Olympic Winter Games, incorporating details on the sports event, sex, injury location, and type. Through a meta-analysis, we calculated the injury incidence rates for each sport and examined the influence of sex and the type of sport on these incidence rates. Out of 11,197 registered athletes, we documented 1,304 sports injuries. The sports events with the highest injury rates were freestyle skiing, snowboarding, alpine skiing, bobsleigh, and ice hockey, with the most frequent injury locations being the knees, thoracic/lumbar/back regions, and the wrist/hand/fingers. Contusions, hematomas, and bruises were the most prevalent injuries, followed by strains (including muscle rupture, tearing, or tendon rupture) and sprains (covering dislocations, subluxations, and ligament ruptures). In the Olympic Winter Games, events such as freestyle skiing, snowboarding, alpine skiing, bobsleigh, and ice hockey pose a particularly high risk. Predominant injury sites include the knee, spine/back, and wrist and hand, with injuries ranging from contusions and hematomas to strains and sprains. For effective injury prevention, it is crucial to emphasize proper medical resource allocation, specialized training for medical personnel, and meticulous venue maintenance.

Ice-and-snow tourism in China: trends and influencing factors

Ice-and-snow tourism (IST) is central to the Chinese ice-and-snow economy and can help achieve the green transformation and expansion of the Chinese economy. However, IST has not been defined conclusively in China. In this study, the IST concept was analyzed, and the growth of both tourism types was described using an Event–Time–Space comprehensive analysis method. Two temporal phases with large increases were highlighted in both tourisms. The factors promoting their increases were analyzed from market demand, the Beijing 2022 Olympics Winter Games, and scientific and technological developments for ice and snow. The 2020–2021 decrease in IST was primarily attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, IST has dual challenges related to natural and socioeconomic factors. Climate warming has a long-term adverse effect on IST, particularly on glacier tourism. Traditional outdoor skiing tourism in Northeast China (NEC) may also be affected by more competition owing to increased ski tourism in the pan-Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XJUAR) and Southern China, as well as by the development of indoor skiing and ice/snow entertainment. These natural and socioeconomic factors currently limit the ability of IST to promote socioeconomic development in alpine areas, particularly in western China. However, there are many opportunities for future IST growth, including warmed comfort climate at high altitudes in the NEC, XJUAR and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, major glacier resource potentials, and IST development driven by policies. The findings of this study provide important information for decision-makers and investors in IST and its related industries.

Mixing state and effective density of aerosol particles during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games

Abstract. Mixing state and density are two key parameters of aerosol particles affecting their impacts on radiative forcing and human health. Here a single-particle aerosol mass spectrometer in tandem with a differential mobility analyzer and an aerodynamic aerosol classifier was deployed during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games (OWG) to investigate the impacts of emission controls on particle mixing state and density. Our results show the dominance of carbonaceous particles comprising mainly total elemental carbon (Total-EC, 13.4 %), total organic carbon (Total-OC, 10.5 %) and Total-ECOC (47.1 %). Particularly, the particles containing organic carbon and sulfate were enhanced significantly during OWG, although those from primary emissions decreased. The composition of carbonaceous particles also changed significantly which was characterized by the decreases in EC mixed with nitrate and sulfate (EC-NS), EC mixed with potassium nitrate (KEC-N), and amine-containing particles and increase in ECOC mixed with nitrate and sulfate (ECOC-NS). This result indicates that emission controls during OWG reduced the mixing of EC with inorganic aerosol species and amines yet increased the mixing of EC with organic aerosol. The average effective density (ρeff) of aerosol particles (150–300 nm) was 1.15 g cm−3 during the non-Olympic Winter Games (nOWG), with higher values during OWG (1.26 g cm−3) due to the increase in secondary particle contribution. In addition, the ρeff of most particles increased with the increases in pollution levels and relative humidity, yet they varied differently for different types of particles, highlighting the impacts of aging and formation processes on the changes of particle density and mixing state.

Making compromises without a hurting stalemate, the change of the emblem of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games

The study unveils a unique case in the Paralympic Games through investigating the negotiation between the International Paralympic Committee and the Beijing Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games for the change of the emblem of the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games two years after its official release. Qualitative data is collected through interviews with senior personnel and archival documents and is analysed through employing the Advocacy Coalition Framework to highlight the change in the belief system of the two parties and the interaction between the policy subsystem and the broader political and social economic system. The findings reveal the shift in the belief system of respective Coalitions and the change in the power dynamics. The paper concludes with a discussion concerning the ACF’s four pathways of policy change and a response to one of the questions that is raised in the ACF literature for further researches.

Team USA injury and illness incidence at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the injury and illness incidence from Team USA athletes from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and assess any sex-based...

Comparison of Beijing and Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

As a platform, the Winter Olympics provides an opportunity for athletes from different countries to show off to the world. The Winter Olympics are important not only for sport, but also for the economy. A great deal of economic activity takes place during the Olympic Games, which greatly affects the economy of the host country. While some countries have lost a lot of money after hosting the Winter Olympics, causing many companies to go out of business, others may become famous and prosper. The analysis is based on three perspectives: the economic background of the host country and city, hard economy and soft economy and benefits versus costs (by analyzing and collecting different factors and aspects of costs and benefits).Comparing the impact of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games on the two host countries provides a sense of how closely intertwined the Olympics and the economy are. At the same time, this article can also inspire people to have a more comprehensive understanding of the economic effect of the Winter Olympics.

“No Anthem Linked to Russia”: Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 at the Olympic Games

At the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo and again at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, Russian athletes taking home Olympic gold heard Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23 in place of their national anthem. The prohibition of Russia’s anthem, along with the nation’s flag and other state symbols at international sporting events, was the result of an investigation into Russia’s state-run doping program. Although this restriction was heavily debated on social media outlets during the Games, the choice of Tchaikovsky’s beloved concerto was widely accepted as a symbol of the Russian state. The “Russianness” of Tchaikovsky’s concerto, however, is capacious and complex. In this article, I examine the Russian state’s appropriation of Tchaikovsky’s concerto not only as a nationalist musical motif, but as an irredentist anthem reflecting President Vladimir Putin’s intention to restore Russia’s “historic frontiers.” In addition to analyzing how the work was deployed before, during, and after the 2020 and 2022 Games, the article explores the composition’s appearance in contemporary Russian internet culture, including in a popular mashup of the concerto with Queen’s anthem “We Will Rock You.” Arguing that these examples offer musical evidence for the political rhetoric that insists Ukraine is rightfully a part of Russia, this article illustrates the ways that musical nationalism has proven malleable and been (mis)used in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

State of the art and perspectives of sports science in the run-up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games

State of the art and perspectives of sports science in the run-up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games

Stylistic Analysis of Bach’s Speech at the Opening Ceremony of Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

This paper uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the speech of Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), at the opening ceremony of Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 in three aspects: vocabulary, syntax, and rhetorical devices. By calculating word frequency and sentence length according to the tape script of this speech, the result shows that the language is inspiring with many short and simple sentences. Bach is good at using declarative and exclamatory sentences, flexible use of personal pronouns and rhetorical devices, and his language is vivid and imaginative, which can inspire athletes and people around the world to face challenges in a new year. Through discourse analysis, we can better understand the spirit and meaning conveyed by speeches at international gatherings.

올림픽 유산(Legacy)에 대한 개최지 주민의 인식: 2018평창동계올림픽을 중심으로

올림픽 유산(Legacy)에 대한 개최지 주민의 인식: 2018평창동계올림픽을 중심으로

Winter Olympic Games in Lithuanian Media

The Winter Olympics Games is the most important sports event which is reported in Lithuanian media. There are no researches which would show how Lithuanian sports journalists publicate news about Winter Games. The first task is to find out the concept of media, tthe functions and tasks of media, genres and titles of media texts. The second task is to discuss the Winter Olympics and sports media functions. The third task is to elucidate the models of agenda setting and framing theories. The fourth is to perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of content research. In order to implement the first, second and third tasks, an analytical descriptive method is used. In order to implement the fourth, the methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis of the content are used. The results of the research examining the relationship between agencies and authorial publications in the online news dailies Delfi.lt and Lrytas.lt published the most agency news. Sports journalists used the most used the interview genre – 116 times. It turned out that sports journalists mostly published news about Lithuanians competing in the Olympics, rather that foreign athletes. It became clear that sports journalists, when writing publications about Lithuanian athletes used expressive headlines at the Winter Olympics. Analyzing the tone of the presentation of expressive headlines, it became clear that mostly used the negative tone in their authorial publications about Lithuanian athletes.