Olympics

Isabelle Weidemann, of Canada, smiles from the podium after winning the bronze medal in the women’s 3,000 metre speedskating race at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Saturday, February 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Weidemann, Kingsbury earn Canada’s first medals at Beijing Games

Canada made its mark on the medal table early at the Beijing Olympics

Isabelle Weidemann, of Canada, smiles from the podium after winning the bronze medal in the women’s 3,000 metre speedskating race at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Saturday, February 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Torch bearers are framed in a snowflake during the opening ceremony at the Beijing Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Beijing Olympics open with a scene of calm amid the turmoil of reality

‘We can only achieve this mission…if the Olympic Games stand above and beyond all political dispute’

Torch bearers are framed in a snowflake during the opening ceremony at the Beijing Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Canada’s John Morris and Rachel Homan, shake hands after winning the mixed doubles curling match against China, at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Nariman El-Mofty

Curlers right the ship, figure skaters struggle as Canada seeks to defend gold medals

Canada’s figure skating team moved up from eighth to sixth by day’s end

Canada’s John Morris and Rachel Homan, shake hands after winning the mixed doubles curling match against China, at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Nariman El-Mofty
Maddison Pearman skates in the 1500m during the ISU speed skating World Cup at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, AB on December 12, 2021. (Photo by Dave Holland/Speed Skating Canada)

‘Red and White Day’ being held in Ponoka in support of Olympian Maddison Pearman

Number of events being held Friday, Feb. 5, for Ponoka speedskater competing in Beijing

Maddison Pearman skates in the 1500m during the ISU speed skating World Cup at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, AB on December 12, 2021. (Photo by Dave Holland/Speed Skating Canada)
Speedskater Charles Hamelin, left, and hockey player Marie-Philip Poulin hold up the Canadian flag after being named as flag-bearers at a news conference Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Hamelin, Poulin named Canada’s flag-bearers for Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing

Speed skater, hockey sniper have 9 Olympic appearances and 8 medals between them

Speedskater Charles Hamelin, left, and hockey player Marie-Philip Poulin hold up the Canadian flag after being named as flag-bearers at a news conference Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
A medical worker in protective gear collects a swab sample from a video technician visiting from Belgium at a COVID-19 testing site set up inside a hotel at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Beijing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Jae C. Hong

Five members of Team Canada delegation in COVID-19 protocol ahead of Beijing Olympics

Names of those in protocol will not be shared, unless an athlete who can’t compete wishes to disclose

A medical worker in protective gear collects a swab sample from a video technician visiting from Belgium at a COVID-19 testing site set up inside a hotel at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Beijing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Jae C. Hong
Canada’s Owen Power (25) is stopped by Czech Republic’s goalie Jakub Malek (1) as Jan Mysak (19) defends during first period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship action in Edmonton on Sunday, December 26, 2021. Power is among the players named to Canada’s men’s Olympic hockey team on Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Canada mixes youth and experience in quest for Olympic men’s hockey gold

Grizzled Stanley Cup winner Eric Staal and teenage 1st overall draft pick Owen Power anchor team

Canada’s Owen Power (25) is stopped by Czech Republic’s goalie Jakub Malek (1) as Jan Mysak (19) defends during first period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship action in Edmonton on Sunday, December 26, 2021. Power is among the players named to Canada’s men’s Olympic hockey team on Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Canada’s goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe reacts in a penalty shootout during the women’s final soccer match against Sweden at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Canadian soccer keeper Stephanie Labbe surprises by announcing retirement plans

Gold-medal winning Olympian stepping away at the top of her game

Canada’s goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe reacts in a penalty shootout during the women’s final soccer match against Sweden at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
The Canada Post logo is seen on the outside the company’s Pacific Processing Centre, in Richmond, B.C., on June 1, 2017. A claim by Chinese health authorities that the Omicron variant was introduced to a resident of Beijing through a piece of regular mail from Canada is being dismissed as ludicrous. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

China’s claim that Omicron came from Canadian mail dismissed as ‘ludicrous’

Beijing reports 1st local Omicron case last week as Olympics loom in the near horizon

The Canada Post logo is seen on the outside the company’s Pacific Processing Centre, in Richmond, B.C., on June 1, 2017. A claim by Chinese health authorities that the Omicron variant was introduced to a resident of Beijing through a piece of regular mail from Canada is being dismissed as ludicrous. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Olympic Rings assembled atop of a structure stand out near a ski resort on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Olympic athletes heading to Beijing warned about Chinese cyber spies: minister

Sports ministry briefing athletes on security in China, including on the risk of being hacked

Olympic Rings assembled atop of a structure stand out near a ski resort on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Cynthia Appiah from Canada competes during the Bobsleigh World Cup in Altenberg, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Robert Michael/dpa via AP

Canadian bobsledder hopes to break stereotype of what a Winter Olympian looks like

While bobsled is a predominantly white sport, Black pilots are even scarcer

Cynthia Appiah from Canada competes during the Bobsleigh World Cup in Altenberg, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Robert Michael/dpa via AP
Vanessa James and Eric Radford perform their routine during the senior pairs short program at the National Skating Championships, in Ottawa, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

James, Radford nab pairs spot on Olympic team despite withdrawal from nationals

Figure skating duo withdrew after stint with COVID over the holidays

Vanessa James and Eric Radford perform their routine during the senior pairs short program at the National Skating Championships, in Ottawa, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Canada’s Keegan Messing reacts to the crowd after performing his men’s free program during the Skate Canada International figure skating competition, in Vancouver, on Saturday, October 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

COVID-19 spectre hangs over Canada’s Olympic figure skating trials in Ottawa

Canada’s top figure skaters will begin their quest for a spot on the Beijing Olympic team on Friday

Canada’s Keegan Messing reacts to the crowd after performing his men’s free program during the Skate Canada International figure skating competition, in Vancouver, on Saturday, October 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Mark McMorris, of Canada, comes to a halt following his run in the slopestyle finals, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, during the Dew Tour snowboarding event at Copper Mountain, Colo. (AP Photo/Hugh Carey)

Olympic snowboarder Mark McMorris expects Beijing Olympics to go ahead as planned

McMorris “laying incredibly low” until the 2022 Olympic games begin in early February

Mark McMorris, of Canada, comes to a halt following his run in the slopestyle finals, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, during the Dew Tour snowboarding event at Copper Mountain, Colo. (AP Photo/Hugh Carey)
Team Jacobs skip, Brad Jacobs encourages sweepers as a rock glides towards the rings during men’s final of the 2021 Canadian Olympic curling trials against Team Gushue, in Saskatoon, Sask., Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rick Elvin

Canada’s Olympic mixed doubles curling trials cancelled due to COVID-19

Canada is the defending Olympic champion in mixed double

Team Jacobs skip, Brad Jacobs encourages sweepers as a rock glides towards the rings during men’s final of the 2021 Canadian Olympic curling trials against Team Gushue, in Saskatoon, Sask., Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rick Elvin
Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) and Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby (87) skate during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. The Oilers won 2-1 in overtime. THECANADIAN PRESS/AP-Gene J. Puskar

Some of the storylines the NHL missing two Olympics has cost hockey

Last best-on-best tournament for this generation of stars was 2016’s World Cup

Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) and Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby (87) skate during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. The Oilers won 2-1 in overtime. THECANADIAN PRESS/AP-Gene J. Puskar
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during a news conference prior to Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final hockey game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals, Monday, May 28, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

It’s official: NHL confirms it will not be going to the Beijing Olympics

NHL and NHLPA formally announce decision to skip the games due to COVID-19 concerns

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during a news conference prior to Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final hockey game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals, Monday, May 28, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid (97) takes a faceoff against Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews (34) during first period NHL action in Toronto, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

NHL players not going to Beijing Olympics due to COVID-19 concerns

CP confirmed decision on the condition of anonymity because a formal announcement had yet to be made

Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid (97) takes a faceoff against Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews (34) during first period NHL action in Toronto, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Boston Bruins’ Charlie Coyle (13) chases Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) during second period NHL hockey action in Edmonton, Alta., on December 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken

McDavid calls potential five-week Olympic quarantine for COVID-19 ‘unsettling’

NHL still has to make a final call on whether to go ahead with Olympic participation

Boston Bruins’ Charlie Coyle (13) chases Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) during second period NHL hockey action in Edmonton, Alta., on December 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken
The Olympic flame is displayed during an event at the Beijing University of Posts and Communications in Beijing, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Chinese Olympic organizers on Thursday held one of the first public events to display the Olympic flame since its arrival from Greece in October as part of the build up to the 2022 Winter Olympics in February. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

EXPLAINER: What does an Olympic diplomatic boycott achieve?

Aim of recently announced boycotts is calculated to hurt the pride of host nations

The Olympic flame is displayed during an event at the Beijing University of Posts and Communications in Beijing, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Chinese Olympic organizers on Thursday held one of the first public events to display the Olympic flame since its arrival from Greece in October as part of the build up to the 2022 Winter Olympics in February. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)