- Beijing took over the Olympic Flag at the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, marking the start of the Winter Games entering "Beijing Time." Beijing issued a worldwide call for mascot designs on August 8 and for opening ceremony proposals on October 15.
Photo taken on March 18, 2018 shows Chen Jining (R), mayor of Beijing, China, waving the Paralympic flag during the closing ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games held at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium, South Korea. Beijing took over the Olympic Flag at the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, marking the start of the Winter Games entering "Beijing Time." Beijing issued a worldwide call for mascot designs on Aug. 8 and for opening ceremony proposals on Oct. 15. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)