The 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have come to a successful conclusion after seven years of assiduous preparations and twenty-five days of invigorating competitions. Beijing, the only "Dual Olympic City” in history, once again drew the whole world's eyes and applause, for exhibiting such an extraordinary event of sports and culture in the midst of the global pandemic despite uncertainties and difficulties, with nearly 3,400 athletes from more than 100 countries and regions participating to sweat for honor and unite as one.

History’s turning points are rarely evident with great clarity. But the February 4 joint statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping as the Winter Olympics opened in Beijing may be an exception – signaling a new turning point in a new Cold War.

Sporting events are often framed as apolitical platforms to celebrate healthy competition and camaraderie. Though true to some extent, nothing exists within a vacuum - and events like the Olympics should account for its the political reverberations to manage them in a positive way.

Lessons of friendship, peace and unity were on display — and useful for China-U.S. relations: Compete like the Olympics. Unite like the Olympics. Move together into the future with the Olympics.

With the Winter Olympics bringing the world’s eyes to China, it seems that the stage is set for a major year of confrontation between rising China and the U.S., competing with rival benefit packages to draw third-parties away from their opponent.

Eileen Gu, the American-born Gen Z gold medalist who competed for China in the Olympics, set off a firestorm on nationality and identity issues in light of her success at the Winter Games. Her preference for duality defies previous generations’ binary perspectives, and makes room for discussion on how one claims space for themselves in 2022.

China’s digital yuan soft launched during the Beijing Winter Olympics, ushering in a new era of financial institutions. Already a leader in digital payment infrastructure, China’s ambition to solidify the digital yuan’s use will change how an already robust ecosystem operates.

Unlike the warmth it showed China during the 2008 Summer Olympics, the United States has adopted a chilly mindset for the 2022 Winter Games. In fact, relations seem headed for an extended ice age.

The gold medalist is just one of many bright spots at the Winter Olympics. Many other China stories are being told as well. If we concentrate on doing our own things well, the entire world will see for itself, and unfair China smears will not prevail.

The world is setting their eyes on the Bird’s Nest for a second time. But this round, the Olympic Games are being met with a global pandemic, diplomatic boycotts, and the Russo-Ukrainian crisis.