Officials acknowledge COVID challenges facing Beijing Winter Olympics

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.