Reflecting on 2022: stunning photos from the Beijing Winter Olympics

At the beginning of the year, in February, the world's eyes were on Beijing, where the XXIV Olympic Winter Games took place. Norway came out on top with the most gold medals but all the athletes who took part deserve applause.

There were 15 disciplines to compete in this years' games, all of them offering a white and shimmering winter background, leaving us with unforgettable photos. The photos that came from these picturesque sports were stunning. Take a look at our favourites.

Some of the most spectacular images come from the parades of athletes, coming together to stand as one. This was the colourful Parade of Athletes during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony.

This is the Zhangjiakou ski jumping slope. If it is not imposing enough when seen from below, it is hard to imagine what it must be like to jump down it and reach speeds of 100 km/h. Or to cover vast distances like Stefan Kraft's (Norway) 253.5 metres. Kraft set the current world record in 2017.

This moment from Olivia Asselin (Canada), in one of the most spectacular events of the circuit: acrobatic skiing.

Of course, the Beijing Olympic Village was spectacular in itself: halfway between a holiday resort and Middle Earth in 'Lord of the Rings'.

Another Olympic Village, located in the city-prefecture of Zhangjiakou in the Beijing area, was also a wonder from the air. China's event hosting capacity is second to none.

Curling is a curious, hypnotic and tremendously complicated sport. Amos Mosaner (Italy) shows the level of concentration it requires.

The Winter Olympics, and also the Summer Olympics, offer a few minutes (or sometimes just a few seconds) to showcase years of work. To win, only excellence is considered sufficient, and Mark Kondratiuk (Russia) knew this during his figure skating competition.

But apart from the aesthetic aspect, there is also the competitive aspect, and there are few things more beautiful than two teams squaring off in an ice hockey rink. Especially if those two teams are, as is the case, the United States and Canada. Incidentally, it was Savannah Haarmon (USA) who was about to eat the wall, under the watchful eye of Brianne Jenner (Canada).

Beyond victories and defeats, if there is one thing that has endured at the Olympic Games since they were first held, it is the spirit of friendship, concord and collegiality of all the participants. As Kjeld Nuis (Netherlands) of the speed skating team summed it up, love is in the air.

Everything changes when the riders put on their hoods and hit the speed skating track. Tyson Langelaar (Canada) shows how a photo can capture the feeling of speed.

Cross-country skiing and rifle shooting combined. A mixture that has become one of the great attractions of winter sport. Even more so when people like Benedikt Doll (Germany) offer the world photos as spectacular as this one.

It's a very tough event and not for everyone. As Tiril Udnes (Norway) demonstrates, lying on the ground at the end of his race. Cross-country skiing requires you to give your best, and you need to have been preparing for it for months.

Mathilde Myhrvold (Norway) had finished her participation in the cross-country skiing event, but in the photo she appears to be flying. The magic of aerial shots.

Everyone wants the puck. Ice Hockey is one of the kings of the winter Olympics and winning gold in Beijing 2022 would have made Ahn Kolowratova (Czech Republic) or Lin Qiqi (China) national heroes. Finland pinched the gold in the end.

The fact that a sport includes 'style' in its name already gives you a clue as to what you are going to find. If it is not clear, this acrobatic photo from Yiming Su (China) makes it more than clear.

And beyond the beastly acrobatic snowboarding, the backdrop and natural scenery of Beijing 2022 was a real marvel. Just ask Zoi Sadowski Synnott (New Zealand) what the views from above were like.

Figure Skating combines sport and art in equal parts, and Peng Cheng and Jin Yang (China) were the best example of this in their beautiful pairs exercise.

Anything can be used to intimidate your rivals, including Zhou Jiaying's (China) screen-printed helmet, whose lion commanded respect and fear.

Anyone who says that curling is not an aesthetic or a beautiful winter sport need only look at the elegance and precision with which Stefania Constantini (Italy) delivers a throw. Poetry in slow motion.

If pairs figure skating is a delight to watch, the individual exercises equally as entertaining. This moment of Jin Boyang (China) flying literally centimetres off the ground is majestic.

Apart from the fact that Kaori Sakamoto's (Japan) stance is impossible for 99% of humans, it had the added difficulty of the razor-sharp skate blade. One small mistake and the consequences can be dangerous.

Short Track Speed Skating is a showcase of the dangers surrounding winter sport. Janghyuk Park (South Korea) fell and severed his hand. Goodbye to the Olympic dream. For the time being...

Seeing how close the 1000m Short Track Speed Skating finalists are, it is easier to see what happened to Janghyuk Park (South Korea).

Maximum concentration and extreme tension in the Free Skating of Nathan Chen (USA) in Figure Skating, who seemed to want to give a hug to everyone who sees the picture.

Ailing Eileen Gu (China) had just won gold in Freestyle Skiing and celebrated in the best way: with love.

Here is Kjeld Nuis (Netherlands) reaching speeds unthinkable for humans - but very real in Speed Skating.

The giant slalom, as well as being one of the great spectacles of the competition, provides beautiful images of the slopes at nightfall, with Andreas Sander (Germany) in the middle of the descent.

The Luge track is as aesthetically pleasing as it is impressive from the air. Julia Taubitz (Germany) searched for gold in the darkness.

When seen up close, the Luge is even more impressive, especially when you know that the riders reach speeds of 140 km/h, as in the case of Natalie Geisenberger (Germany).

Maria Sorokina (Russian Olympic Committee) concedes a Finnish goal. Ice hockey can also be magnificent when photos are taken at the right angle.

Benjamin Karl (Austria) won gold in the Giant Parallel Slalom and celebrated by kissing the snow.

If you don't know what the Giant Parallel Slalom is, this picture defines it perfectly. Here you can see Benjamin Karl (Austria) in action.

Winning Olympic gold is a dream, and sometimes is can be achieved. Ailing Eileen Gu (China) opted for the simple trick of biting the medal. It's not a dream. It is Olympic and it's real.

Participating in the Olympics is the ultimate for any athlete. Birk Ruud (Norway) found fame for more than his athletic ability. His Olympic nails were a symbol of Beijing 2022.