Parks and avenues in Beijing are lined with red Lunar New Year lanterns. Streets are deserted as families gather at home to celebrate the Year of the Tiger. The five-ring symbol of the Olympics and the cuddly panda mascot of the Winter Games are hardly to be seen.
Winter sports lovers around the globe are turning their eyes toward Beijing as the Winter Olympics begin on Friday. But in the Chinese capital itself, outside the “closed loop” bubble for participants, there are few signs of an Olympic fever.
The biggest reason seems to be the time of year.