(ATR) A familiar face to the Olympic Movement will direct the Beijing 2022 Olympic flag handover to close out the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games.
The renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou will produce the performance signaling the end of South Korea’s Winter Olympic project and the beginning of China’s. It will be the second time Yimou has directed the Olympic flag handover, previously organizing the handover for Beijing 2008 during the Athens 2004 Closing Ceremony.
Yimou, 66, is known for directing the Beijing 2008 Opening and Closing Ceremonies. He could be a popular choice to develop the ceremonies for Beijing 2022 if he maintains his directing aspirations.
He also created a promotional video to boost the Beijing 2022 bid. The IOC selected Beijing over Almaty, Kazakhstan to host the Winter Olympics in August 2015.
The flag handover has grown in complexity since its inception at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. At the Rio 2016 Games, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared as Super Mario out of a green pipe from the popular series before receiving the Olympic flag from former Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes.
Yimou will deliver his next contribution to the Olympic Movement on Feb. 25 during the PyeongChang 2018 Closing Ceremony.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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