Beijing mostly got what it wanted from the Winter Olympics — a smooth Games without a major COVID outbreak. But political and human rights controversies were never far from the surface.
Why it matters: The Chinese government has poured billions of dollars into new infrastructure, facilities and COVID testing for the Winter Olympics, hoping the investment would pay off with a boost to China's international image.
The Beijing Games came to a close Sunday with a ceremony at the Beijing National Stadium.
Why it matters: These were the second Olympic games to take place during the pandemic and were conducted within the confines of China's "closed loop" system designed to keep COVID out, the strictest-ever protocols created for a global sporting event.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired Brian Flores, who is suing the NFL and its franchises for racial discrimination, to be an assistant coach, the team announced Saturday.
Details: Flores, who was most recently head coach of the Miami Dolphins and has over 14 years of experience as an NFL coach, will be a senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach under Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin, one of two Black head coaches in the league.
Team USA athletes generated far less interest on social media during the Winter Olympics than those who competed in the Summer Games, according to data from CrowdTangle.
Why it matters: The numbers suggest a broader branding problem for the Winter Olympics, which saw declining ratings and fewer marketable stars.
