The Winter Olympics in Beijing used lots of man-made snow. This was the first time that the Winter Olympics     1     (take) place on almost 100% artificial snow.

Most skiing competitions of the Winter Olympics were held in areas northwest of Beijing,     2     it’s cold in the winter but often doesn’t snow much. That’s because these areas aren’t far     3     the Gobi Desert, and are generally very dry. To hold the Winter Olympics, China hired Techno Alpin,     4     Italian company, to create the snow needed for the events.

It’s     5     (use) to be able to make snow when nature doesn’t provide enough. But artificial snow is surely not the same as natural snow, which has more air and less water. An athlete used to natural snow might have to adjust their style when     6     (perform) on man-made snow.

However, now machine     7     (design) to make artificial snow are quite advanced. They can make different kinds of snow depending on what’s needed for each sport. Most athletes thought     8     (high) of the snow and it brought them much     9     (amuse). With global warming going forward, it     10     (expect) that artificial snow will be used more at future winter sports events.

A mural (壁画) dating back to more than 1,000 years ago was discovered in Altay city, northwestern China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.     1     described a scene of hunting and skiing by ancient people, the     2     (early) record of human ice and snow activities ever found.

The development of ice and snow activities over the centuries has had     3     important effect on modern ice and snow sports. Since the 1950s, skiing and skating games     4     (hold) widely in northern China. In 1980, China took part in its first Winter Olympics     5     won the bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in 2015.

The Games started on February 4,     6     (last) for 17 days in three competition places in Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou. Nearly 3, 000     7     (athlete) from more than 90 countries and regions gathered under the banner of the Five Rings to share the passion, joy and friendship     8     (bring) by sports, build a bridge for understanding and communication, and unite people     9     all over the world. “Together for a Shared Future” is the     10     (office) motto (格言) for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which is also the attitude towards current difficulties.

The 2022 Winter Paralympic Games was     1     (office) open at the National Stadium on March 4th in Beijing, China. Chinese President Xi Jinping declared     2     opening of the Games after International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Andrew Parsons’ address. Parsons spoke highly of China’s     3     (prepare) for the Winter Paralympics and encouraged people with disabilities,     4     account for 15 percent of the population in the world,     5     (find) their power and maximize what they can do.

    6     (direct) by Zhang Yimou, the program was themed “Blossoming of Life”, and divided     7     12 parts. Sight-impaired (受损的) Li Duan, Paralympic long jump and triple jump champion at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, placed the torch at the heart of a snowflake that was raised and     8     (hang) over the stadium     9     the torch was relayed by eight Paralympic athletes. The Beijing Winter Paralympics lasted nine days, with more than 700 para-athletes     10     (compete) in 78 events across six sports. These events were staged at six venues (场馆) in the three competition zones of Beijing, Yanging and Zhangjiakou.

The official medals of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games were displayed on October 26^th. The organizing committee introduced the medals—called tong xin,     1     means togetherness that day.

The medals are inspired by yu bi, a Chinese jade artifact     2     (date) back 5,000 years. A total of five of this kind of jade     3     (unearth) from a tomb up to now.

Each medal has carvings of the Olympic rings on one side. The rings represent the pursuit of unity and harmony, and they also represent the Olympic     4     (value) of solidarity and inclusiveness. Carvings of cloud patterns,     5     element used on the torch of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, snowflakes and ice markings fill the outer rings. The     6     side of the medals has the Beijing 2022 emblem at the center.     7     (visual), it looks quite plain at first glance, while details such as the carving of clouds and snowflake patterns as well as the uneven surface have made it     8     (special) than expected, according to the committee.

Gaining     9     (inspire) from jade for a second time honors the Chinese capital’s unique position as the first city     10    （host) the Summer and Winter Olympics.

With just over four months     1     (go) before the Beijing Winter Olympics open on Feb 4, the organizers unveiled (揭开) a series of     2     (poster) for the event at the opening ceremony of Beijing Design Week on Wednesday.Three sets of    3     (office) posters feature the Games' emblem and mascots (会徽和吉祥物), while 11 promotional (促销的) posters     4     (select) from among thousands of entries received for    5     design competition.

"The posters stand out due to their compelling     6     (combine) of winter sports action, Chinese cultural elements, landmarks of the host city and contemporary design,     7     make them a strong package presenting the image of the Games    8     the world while building on anticipation (预料) of the Olympics," said Chen Ning, director of the committee's culture and ceremony department.The set of six posters primarily     9     (feature) the Games mascots — Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon — on red papercut works, reminders of the traditional window decorations    10     (see) during Chinese holidays.

Beijing marks 100 days until the Winter Olympics on Wednesday. The Chinese capital in February will become the first host of a Summer and Winter Games and last week welcomed the Olympic flame.

The 2022 Games,     1     take place just six months after the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Summer Olympics,     2     (hold) in a strict "closed loop"(闭环) bubble to stop infections. The estimated 2,900 athletes must be fully vaccinated or face 21 days' quarantine（隔离） upon    3     (arrive) in the Chinese capital. Unlike the Tokyo Games, there will be spectators, but ticket sales are limited to people    4     (live) in China. China lit the Olympic flame for Beijing 2022 Winter Games last week, marking the start of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, which will make Beijing the first "double Olympic city"   – hosting both the Summer    5     Winter Olympics.

The preparations for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games and Winter Paralympic Games are being actively and orderly promoted.     6     (base) on its rich experience in pandemic prevention and hosting large events, China has further refined and improved its pandemic prevention measures. "Through the unique formats and methods with Chinese characteristics, we hope    7     people all over the world can experience China's vibrant(充满活力的) sports culture and appreciate the enthusiasm of every Chinese person to participate     8     and support the Olympic Games," Wang Xiangyu, a senior 2022 official, said last week. The Games -- running Feb 4-20 -- will make use of some of 2008's venues, including the "Bird's Nest" national stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies. While the     9     (globe) situation for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic remains severe and complex, China is committed to delivering on every promise made in its bid for the Winter Olympics, demonstrating extraordinary scientific and technological strength and excellent management capabilities in the     10     (preparation) for the games.