When, How To Watch NJ Athletes At Olympics 2022 In Beijing

NEW JERSEY — With COVID-19 protocols restricting spectators to a select few in the 2022 Beijing Olympics starting Friday, the only way to cheer on four Winter Olympics athletes with ties to New Jersey is from home.

The Olympic schedule shows competition beginning Wednesday, ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony.

Athletes hailing from the Garden State who are representing the United States in the Feb. 4-20 XXIV Olympics are:

Charlie Volker, Fair Haven (Bobsled)

The timings for bobsled are:

• Feb. 14, 7:05 a.m. 2-Man Heats 1-2
• Feb. 15, 7:15 a.m. 2-Man Heats 2-3
• Feb. 18, 8:30 p.m. Four-Man Heat 1-2
• Feb. 18 , 11:35 p.m. Four Man Team Event
• Feb. 19, 8:30 p.m. Four-Man Heat 3-4

Read more: Princeton University Grad Is Headed To The Winter Olympics

Kenny Agostino, Morristown (Ice Hockey)

• Feb. 10, 8:10 p.m. Men’s Preliminary Round - Group A
• Feb. 11, 11:10 p.m., Men’s Preliminary Round - Group A
• Feb. 13, 8:10 p.m., Men’s Preliminary Round - Group A

Read more: Morristown's Kenny Agostino Readies For Winter Olympic Hockey

Kelly Curtis, Princeton (Skeleton)

Here's when you can watch skeleton and cheer for Curtis:

• Feb. 10, 8:30 p.m. Heat 1
• Feb. 10, 10 p.m. Heat 2
• Feb. 12 7:20 a.m. Heat 3
• Feb. 12 10:45 a.m. Heat 4

Read more: Princeton Native Kelly Curtis To Compete In Winter Olympics

Kimi Goetz, Flemington (Speedskating-Long Track)

• Feb. 7, 3:30 p.m., Women's 1500m (Sub)
• Feb. 13, 8:56 p.m., Women's 500m
• Feb. 17, 3:30 p.m., Women's 1000m

While there are four current New Jersey residents competing this year, a dozen total Olympians this year have called the Garden State home at one point, including Sparta native Sarah Escobar (skiing) and Rumson native Meghan Tierney (snowboarding). Read more: All The New Jersey Athletes Competing In The Beijing Olympics

The Beijing Games are the second Olympics competition to be held during the coronavirus pandemic. The 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics were delayed until 2021, and athletes in Beijing will face similarly rigid protocols, as COVID-19 numbers remain high around the world.

Olympic organizers in mid-January suspended ticket sales to the general public, saying that selected groups of spectators would be invited on-site. International spectators cannot attend.

How To Watch The Olympics

NBCUniversal is the main broadcast partner and will offer 2022 Beijing Olympics programming across its cable, broadcast and digital platforms, including NBC, USA, CNBC and the Olympic Channel.

But what if you’ve cut the cord on cable? People with basic cable packages that include access to NBC can watch livestream coverage with the NBC Sports app.

Here are some other options:

• SlingTV’s Blue Plan includes access to channels broadcasting live Olympic coverage.
• Sling is offering a free trial of its Blue Plan, which includes access to channels broadcasting live Olympics coverage.
• fuboTV offers Olympic livestreams;
• Hulu + Live TV gives you access on TVs, tablets, laptops and other devices.
• NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, offers livestreaming via laptops, smartphones and smart TVs.

The Olympic athletes face a number of hurdles under a COVID-19 safety plan that includes daily testing of both athletes and workers. A positive test could sideline athletes, even if they’re no longer contagious, but Olympic organizers say the plan is flexible and allows for a case-by-case review on the need for isolation.