China to restrict Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics tickets to residents

Organisers of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics have informed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that overseas visitors will not be allowed to attend the 2022 Games with tickets only to be sold to spectators from mainland China.

The Games organisers have also informed the IOC's executive board that to deliver a "safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as scheduled”, unvaccinated athletes will be required to spend 21 days in quarantine ahead of the Games.

While vaccination is not mandatory for February’s Games, fully vaccinated athletes will enter a "closed-loop management system" upon arrival, within which they will move freely. This system will cover all Games-related areas and stadiums as well as accommodation, catering and the opening and closing ceremonies, served by a dedicated transport system.

While acknowledging disappointment among international fans who will not be able to attend, the IOC welcomed the decision to have spectators at the Games after the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics in July were held with empty stadiums due to COVID-19 precautions.

Commenting on this, the IOC advised in a statement “this will facilitate the growth of winter sports in China … as well as bringing a favourable atmosphere to the venues.”

The development is also likely to be welcomed by broadcasting rights holders and sponsors, following coverage of the Tokyo Games with empty stands in the background.

More details on the organisers' plans will be included in the Beijing Games playbooks to be issued in October and December.

The past week has also seen organisers release official posters and 11 promotional pieces featuring elements of winter sports and Chinese culture to highlight the  Beijing 2022 motto ‘Together for a Shared Future’.

After a year-long selection campaign and rounds of thorough discussion and deliberation, the organising committee hopes to maximise use of the Winter Olympic posters to encourage more people around the country to be involved in the Games.

The Winter Olympics runs over 16 days, from 4th to 20th February, with the Chinese capital becoming the first city to have hosted both summer and winter editions after also staging the Beijing 2008 Summer Games.

Images show promotional posters for the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics.