The International Olympic Committee mentioned February’s Beijing Winter Olympics shall be held without overseas spectators and athletes have to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus or face 21 days’ quarantine.
The measures, which do allow spectators who’re living in mainland China, have been revealed with the Games just 4 months away and after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics similarly juggled with how to go ahead safely through the pandemic.
The Tokyo Games, which have been postponed by a yr due to the health crisis, largely took place without any spectators to stop infections.
Another difference from Tokyo shall be that all members have to be vaccinated or will need to do a 21-day quarantine on arrival within the Chinese capital. Athletes who can provide a “justified medical exemption” will have their cases considered.
All attendees will enter a strict “bubble” as soon as they land that covers Games-related areas and stadiums as well as accommodation, transport, catering and the opening and closing ceremonies.
The decisions, announced by the IOC however taken by Chinese organisers, are a foretaste of a package of measures to be launched in October designed to prevent the Games from turning into a source of contamination.
All domestic and international Games participants and workforce within the bubble, known as the “closed-loop management system”, shall be tested daily.
The 2022 Beijing Olympics, which is facing calls for a boycott from rights groups, is scheduled for February 4-20.
The IOC mentioned that allowing domestic fans “will facilitate the growth of winter sports in China by giving those spectators a first-hand Olympic and Paralympic experience of elite winter sports, in addition to bringing a favourable atmosphere to the venues”.
