Calgarians mark opening of 2022 Beijing Games with celebration, protest
Global News
The Beijing Winter Olympics are an opportunity to reach the world stage -- in sport or in protest of China's human rights record.
With the 2022 Beijing Olympics underway, Calgarians are marking the occasion in the former Winter Olympics host city.
And for the mother of one novice Olympian, it’s an especially exciting time.
“It’s her first Olympics,” said Tracy McKay, mother of ski jumper Alexandria Loutitt. “She just turned 18 a few weeks ago.
“It was kind of a surprise for us that she was going to make this Olympics, so we’re all super excited.”
But the 15 time zone difference makes watching the competition a sleep-deprived affair.
“I think I’ll nap until then and then get up for 11 p.m. to watch the men’s qualifying and then the ladies,” McKay said.
“With COVID(-19), we’re not having a huge party like we would like to have. And, of course, it’s in the middle of the night, so not everybody is willing to get up at 2:45 a.m. like we are to watch live.”
Loutitt took to ski jumping for the first time as a nine-year-old at Winsport.