The motto for this year’s Olympics is “together for a shared future,” according to the International Olympic Committee ’s website.
1. When and where will the opening ceremony take place? The ceremony is set to begin at 8 p.m. Beijing time – or 7 a.m. EST – Friday at the National Stadium, aka the Bird’s Nest.
“‘Together for a shared future’” demonstrates unity and a collective effort, embodying the core values and vision of the Olympic movement, and the goal of pursuing world unity, peace and progress,” the website reads. “The motto considered the key values of the Paralympic Games, in particular the role they play in contributing to a more inclusive society.”
The Games will officially end with the closing ceremony on Feb. 20.
2. Who will be there? Although high-profile world leaders such as China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Pakistan’s Imran Khan will be at the opening ceremony, the U.S., Britain and other allies have refused to send government representatives to the events amid a boycott of China’s alleged violations of human rights, according to The Wall Street Journal .
3. Who are the U.S. flag bearers? Fellow athletes chose bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, a three-time Olympic medalist, and curler John Shuster, who won the gold medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics, as the flag bearers for Team USA , according to a news release.
Because Meyers Taylor is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, speed skater and 2018 Olympic bronze medalist Brittany Bowe will carry the flag in her place, the release said.
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to lead Team USA into the Opening Ceremony,” Bowe said in a statement. “Taking on this responsibility is the honor of a lifetime, and I will proudly carry the American flag on behalf of Elana, her family and all of Team USA.”
4. What impact has COVID-19 had on the ceremony and other events? Officials announced last month that members of the general public will not be able to attend the Winter Olympics amid coronavirus concerns.
According to The Associated Press , the organizing committee said in a Jan. 17 statement that only “selected” spectators will be allowed at the events, which already had been closed to fans from outside the country.
CNN reported that officials are inviting about 150,000 spectators to the Games.
5. A familiar face is behind this year’s opening ceremony. Filmmaker Zhang Yimou, who oversaw the 2008 Summer Games opening ceremony in Beijing, has returned to direct this year’s ceremony, according to the IOC website.
The Academy Award winner vowed that the presentation will be “simple, safe and splendid,” the website said.
“In 2008, the Olympics was a brilliant stage and chance for our country to show ourselves,” Zhang, 71, previously told the Xinhua news agency, according to the AP . “It’s different now.”
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic mascot Bing Dwen Dwen is seen during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 4, 2022, in Beijing, China. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 4, 2022, in Beijing, China. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Performers take part in the pre-show of the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, at the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, on February 4, 2022. (MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Performers prepare for the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, at the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, on February 4, 2022. (MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 4, 2022, in Beijing, China. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Performers display paintings during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 4, 2022, in Beijing, China. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Performers are seen holding snowflake signs during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 4, 2022, in Beijing, China. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 4, 2022, in Beijing, China. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Performers display paintings during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 4, 2022, in Beijing, China. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony A general view inside the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 4, 2022, in Beijing, China. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony An overview of the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, ahead of the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, on February 4, 2022. (FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony A general view of the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, ahead of the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, on February 4, 2022. (SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Announcers start the pre-show before the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Actors cheer as President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, arrives for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (David J. Phillip/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony A dancer performs during the pre-show ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Matt Slocum/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Benjamin Alexander and Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian, of Jamaica, carry their national flag into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Bing Dwen Dwen, the Olympics mascot, makes an appearance during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony The Chinese national flag is carried to the stage to be raised during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Matt Slocum/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Team Canada arrives during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Valtteri Filppula leads Finland's team during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Actors perform during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (David J. Phillip/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Performs participate in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Children perform in the pre-show during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (David J. Phillip/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Performers wave light sticks during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Cai Qi, President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games speaks during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Nathan Crumpton, of American Samoa, arrives during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Performers march in colorful costumes during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach address the crowd during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony The Olympic flag is carried into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Matt Slocum/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Yekaterina Aidova, of Kazakhstan, waves as she walks into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony CORRECTS TO BRITTANY BOWE AND NOT ELANA MEYERS TAYLOR AS ORIGINALLY SENT - Brittany Bowe and John Shuster, of the United States, carry their country's flag during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony CORRECTS TO BRITTANY BOWE AND NOT ELANA MEYERS TAYLOR AS ORIGINALLY SENT -Brittany Bowe and John Shuster, of the United States, lead their team in during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony China's President Xi Jinping declares the Games open during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (Anthony Wallace/Pool Photo via AP) (ANTHONY WALLACE/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Entertainers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Matt Slocum/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Donovan Carrillo and Sarah Schleper, of Mexico, carry their national flag into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Athletes from China arrive during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (Jeff Roberson/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Nathan Crumpton, of American Samoa, carries his national flag into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (David J. Phillip/AP)
Photos: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening ceremony Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP)