Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics to be open to fans

The bubble – in place from January 23 until the end of the Paralympic Winter Games on March 13 – will cover all stadiums and competition venues, as well as accommodation, catering and the opening and closing ceremonies. It will also have its own transport system.

“In the closed loop, participants will only be allowed to move between Games-related venues for training, competitions and work,” said the IOC.

Athletes and other fully vaccinated participants will be allowed to enter the bubble without quarantine. Those who are not fully vaccinated, meanwhile, will need to spend 21 days in quarantine upon arrival.

A Chinese version of the protocols quoted by state media said “all athletes eligible for vaccination should be vaccinated,” while other participants can choose either full vaccination or 21 days of centralized quarantine.

Although vaccination against Covid-19 is not required by the IOC, Team USA has demanded that all of its traveling members be vaccinated.

The IOC statement said that “athletes who can provide a justified medical exemption will have their cases reviewed,” adding that all vaccines recognized by the World Health Organization or approved by the countries or regions concerned will be accepted.

All domestic and international bubble participants and staff will be tested for Covid-19 daily, according to the IOC statement.

Ban on fans abroad

At this year’s Tokyo Summer Olympics, Japan did not allow fans in the stands as the Japanese capital was placed on a state of emergency due to the upsurge in infections.

The IOC welcomed the decision to admit spectators to Beijing, while acknowledging its disappointment that fans from outside mainland China were banned.

“This will facilitate the growth of winter sports in China by providing these spectators with a first-hand Olympic and Paralympic experience of elite winter sports, as well as bringing a favorable atmosphere to the venues,” he said. he declares.

Why boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics could backfire

Security requirements specific to Covid-19 and ticketing arrangements for spectators are still under discussion, organizers said, adding that more information will be released in late October and December.

In addition to the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Beijing Games are also facing intense political pressure.

They are shaping up to be the most controversial Olympics in recent years, as calls mount for a diplomatic boycott of alleged human rights violations committed by Beijing in the western region of Xinjiang, where the US State Department claims that up to 2 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are believed to have been placed in a sprawling network of detention centers.

China has repeatedly denied the allegations of human rights violations, saying the centers are necessary to prevent religious extremism and terrorism.

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