Juan One of the possible reasons for a postponement was raised during a videoconference with Juanio Samaranch, the leader of the Beijing Games Coordination Commission.
“No,” he responded confidently. According to Samaranch, the Beijing Games organisers’ “closed loop” technology “can cope with practically anything that can happen in the world regarding and around COVID.”
Omicron, a recently found variation, has experts worried about its global expansion. Several nations have discovered it and/or imposed travel restrictions. Hundreds of athletes and officials from those countries are expected in Beijing in late January or early February.
Organizers claim they’re ready. They produced draught “playbooks” in October that propose COVID-19 countermeasures much rigorous than those used at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Athletes, officials, journalists, and others connected in the Games will only be allowed to travel between their housing, competition sites, and a few other specified areas, avoiding interaction with the Chinese people.
They will all be tested everyday. China’s travel limitations maintain a high vaccination rate. Unvaccinated people face a 21-day tight quarantine, which isn’t possible for competitive athletes.
The strategy is flexible, authorities indicated Tuesday. “We’ve run through all the scenarios. “[Organizers] have planned for any eventuality,” Samaranch added. “We don’t anticipate COVID to progress backward or forward. But we are ready for any movement. place. The tale goes on. nclear what such backup plans are. Preparations for the Games in Tokyo were stepped up for nations struck heavily by the Delta variation, according to IOC executive director Cristophe Dubi. ““We will definitely implement concrete steps [before Beijing],” Dubi said Tuesday. “I believe this would include the past 14 days before to arriving in China.”
Dubi stated no Omicron-inflicted changes to draught “playbooks” had yet been made. These playbooks should be finalised this month.
The virus’ development may influence a fan’s decision. Organizers earlier claimed no international spectators would be allowed to travel for Beijing Games, although fans from mainland China could be allowed. Tickets haven’t sold yet, but Dubi told Tuesday that “organisers are planning for a large crowd.”
“No decision yet,” he added. But everything is “planned for a spectator operation,” from refreshments to crowd management.
Many experts think China’s tight “zero COVID” virus control policy is designed to create a joyous environment for worldwide television audiences and demonstrate the country’s alleged global dominance.
“They’ll travel to the venues with Chinese personnel, or Chinese military,” a source with decades of Olympic experience told Yahoo Sports last week. “It’s going to be Chinese Games.”
To be determined in the next weeks, Dubi said. If fans are welcomed, “we will definitely get the [ticket] sales up and running,” he added.
Asked about Omicron last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhao Lijan said he was “absolutely convinced” that the Winter Olympics will go as planned, easily, and successfully.
