Beijing Winter Olympics

Russian figure skater can compete at Beijing Olympics

The Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared the gold medallist from the team event to skate in her next Olympic event starting today despite the doping charge against her, which has rocked the world of figure skating.

CAS upheld an earlier decision by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency to lift a provisional ban on Valieva, after she had tested positive on Dec. 25 for a banned substance.

No medals will be awarded in either the team event won by the Russian Olympic Committee or the individual women's event starting on Tuesday should Valieva finish in the top three, the IOC said.

Heavy snowfall hits Winter Olympics

Brown scrub and brush on the hills around some of the mountain venues have made for underwhelming TV images during the Games but the snowfalls have blanketed the area white, while posing some issues for crews at local venues.

"In heavy snow weather, one must not wait, it's a process of clearing as it snows," Shu Wen, deputy director of maintenance services at the Genting Snow Park, said.

"It's all about preventing the use of snow-melt agents.

China warns nations will 'pay price' for Olympic boycott

The US, UK, Australia and Canada will not send government representatives to the Games because of concerns over China's human rights record.

This includes widespread allegations of abuse against the Uyghur minority group.

France, host of the next Summer Games, said it would not join the boycott.

The Winter Olympics are set to take place in Beijing in February.

"The United States, Britain and Australia have used the Olympics platform for political manipulation," Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry, said.

2022 Beijing Winter Olympics: Australia joins US diplomatic boycott

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision was in response to "human rights abuses" in China's Xinjiang province and "many other issues that Australia has consistently raised".

Athletes would still attend, he added.

China has condemned the US announcement and threatened to retaliate, without giving further details.

On Monday, the US said it would not send diplomats to the Games in Beijing over concerns about China's human rights record.

Beijing introduces rules for winter Olympians

China, where measures to tackle COVID-19 are among the world's strictest, has already said international spectators will not be allowed to enter the country for the Games which will run from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20.

China has all-but shut its borders to international travellers, with the number of international flights drastically reduced from pre-COVID levels, and games organisers said on Monday that domestic and foreign airlines will be encouraged to operate temporary flights available only to participants.