Cold snap at the Beijing Games (February 4-20). The organizing committee cancels the sale of tickets to the general public due to a ‘complicated’ epidemic situation.
It was expected so far that people residing in China can buy tickets and attend the Games. Spectators from abroad already had no means of attending the competitions.
‘Given that the epidemic situation is still difficult and complicated’ in the country, where several cities have been struggling with outbreaks of Covid-19 in recent weeks, the organizing committee has canceled the sale of tickets.
‘In order to protect the health and safety of staff and spectators (…), it has been decided to adjust the initial plan (and instead) to organize the arrival of spectators at the (competition) venues ‘, he said in a press release.
The organizing committee did not specify how these people will be selected or whether they will have to quarantine before going to the stadiums and to the edge of the ski slopes. According to certain sources, invitations might in particular be given to civil servants or employees of public companies.
Contaminated letters?
The number of new cases of Covid-19 in China reached its highest level since March 2020 on Monday and the authorities are particularly on the alert as the Games approach. An admittedly very limited total of 223 new cases have been reported in the country, including some of the highly contagious Omicron variant. Several regions of the country have been facing epidemic rebounds in recent weeks.
Less than three weeks before the Beijing Winter Olympics, the authorities are mobilized. Especially since the Chinese capital reported this weekend a first case of the Omicron variant. A Beijing health official, Pang Xinghuo, told reporters that the virus was found on a letter received from Canada by the infected person. According to authorities, dozens of letters from the same batch were tested and five showed traces of coronavirus.
‘Closed loop’
The city of Beijing now requires a negative test before travel and a follow-up test following arrival. The Chinese capital launched its ‘closed loop’ concept last week. This sanitary bubble must prevent any direct contact between its future inhabitants (athletes, officials, volunteers, drivers, cooks) and the Chinese population.
/ ATS
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