Beijing 2022 organizers lay out strict anti-Covid measures to IOC

Beijing, Sep 30 (EFE).- The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will only host spectators from the mainland, and athletes who have not been fully vaccinated will have to spend 21 days in quarantine before the event, according to plans presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and reported Thursday by Chinese state media.

Fully vaccinated athletes and participants will enter a closed bubble upon arrival in the Chinese capital, the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee told the IOC on Wednesday as part of its efforts to keep the Covid-19 pandemic at bay, state newspaper Global Times reported.

The measures are aimed at ensuring the February Games “are held safely as scheduled and to ensure the safety and health of athletes and all stakeholders,” it said.

It added that “all vaccines recognized by World Health Organization or related international organizations or approved officially by countries or regions concerned will be accepted,” and the cases of athletes who have not been vaccinated and who can provide justified medical exemption will be considered.

The Games will be held from Feb. 4-20, but the bubble system will begin on Jan. 23 and will end after the Paralympics (Mar. 4-13).

The bubble includes arrival and departure in Beijing, transportation, accommodation, competitions, catering and opening and closing ceremonies.

Participants will only be able to move around these venues to train, compete and work, the Global Times said.

In September, China held its National Games under strict anti-Covid measures to test its zero-tolerance strategy against the virus for the Winter Games. EFE

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