Officials acknowledge COVID challenges facing Beijing Winter Olympics

October 9, 2021

Events / Safety / Sport / Venues /

Ramping up preparations with a series of test events in advance of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics 2022, Games organisers have acknowledged they "face great pressure" because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

February's Games could be the most restricted mass sporting event since the pandemic began, with no international spectators allowed and a vaccine mandate for anyone entering a strictly enforced "bubble".

Those who have not been vaccinated, including athletes, must quarantine for 21 days on arrival in the Chinese capital before they go into the bubble.

The Olympic organisers will trial many of the measures in a series of domestic test events, international competitions and training for overseas athletes that will begin on Friday (Oct 8) and last several weeks.

Yao Hui, Head of Venue Management on the Beijing Winter Olympics organising committee, told a press conference earlier this week, “we expect that over 2,000 overseas athletes, team officials, international technical officials, and timing and scoring professionals will come to China to participate in various competitions.

"We face great pressure in epidemic prevention and control."

While China has virtually sealed off its borders to keep Coronavirus infections out, ahead of the test events it is allowing entry to participants who are mainly from Asia, as well as Europe and North America.

Examples have included athletes from China, South Korea and the Netherlands participate in speed-skating test events and other events including skiing, snowboarding, luge, bobsleigh and ice hockey.

They will take place in the three Olympic hubs: Beijing, Yanqing district just outside the capital, and Zhangjiakou in neighbouring Hebei province.

Organisers said they will ensure that test events are carried out using the same arrangements as the Winter Olympics.

Unlike the Tokyo Summer Olympics, the Beijing Games will have spectators, but only people living in mainland China.

However, the Winter Olympics bubble will be much stricter than it was in the Japanese capital.

Only fully vaccinated participants, including media and venue staff, can enter the "closed-loop management" bubble without a 21-day quarantine. They cannot leave the bubble for the duration of the Games.

Huang Chun, Head of Epidemic Prevention and Control on the organising committee, added “from when they enter the bubble to when they leave China, we will strictly enforce full-course point-to-point closed-loop management policies.

"In the closed loop, all event participants can only move between the competition venues and participate in activities related to their work, competition, and training. Other activities are not allowed."

Test events in certain sports were scheduled for last winter but were cancelled due to the pandemic.

The Beijing Olympics, which are facing calls for a boycott from rights groups will run from 4th to 20th February 2022.

Images: Beijing Winter Olympics mascot, Bing Dwen Dwen.

30th September 2021 - China to restrict Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics tickets to residents

21st September 2021 - Xi’an municipal government considers China National Games as opportunity to focus on wellness

27th August 2021 - Hong Kong and Macau to partner Guangdong in hosting China’s 2025 National Games

20th August 2021 - China introduces centralised ticketing system for live performance industry

9th August 2021 - Scaled down closing ceremony marks end of 2020 Tokyo Olympics

11th June 2021 - IOC board unanimously backs Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics hosting bid

8th February 2021 - IOC President says Beijing 2022 will ‘transform winter sports’

29th April 2021 - Tokyo Olympic Games organisers’ latest playbook shows athletes will be tested daily for COVID-19

28th January 2021 - Chinese officials confident of completing preparations for a successful Beijing Winter Olympics

2nd December 2020 - Repurposed Beijing Water Cube becomes first venue completed for 2022 Winter Olympics

18th September 2020 - Beijing Culture and Tourism to hold online forum addressing China’s capital’s response to international tourism

6th August 2020 - World Health Organization says large crowds for sporting events are unrealistic this year

10th July 2020 - China bans international sporting events until 2021

13th June 2020 - IOC Coordination Commission praises progress on Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

14th February 2020 - SportAccord convention to relocate from Beijing

1st September 2019 - World’s largest artificial cave attraction opens in Beijing

13th August 2019 - Beijing 2022 ski jumping venue to become year-round attraction

19th July 2019 - Alibaba secures Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics ticketing contract

25th June 2019 - IOC satisfied with preparations for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

12th June 2018 - Venue recycling key to planning for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

30th October 2017 - Construction commences on new Beijing 2022 Olympic venues

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.