COVID-19 key challenge for Beijing Winter Olympics

BEIJING: The organiser of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games said coronavirus epidemic is the biggest challenge for a successful games.

On Monday China had released the first edition of the Winter Olympics 2022 Playbook, with then just 101 days to go until the opening ceremony in Beijing.

The Playbook explains the vaccination policy, a "closed-loop" management system and regular testing on all the participants to ensure the Games take place safely.

"Indeed, epidemic prevention and control is the biggest challenge for us to host the Winter Olympic Games," said Zhang Jiandong, Executive Vice President of Beijing Organisation of 2022 Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Winter Game (BOCWOG) and Vice Mayor of Beijing.

He told a news conference on Wednesday that BOCWOG puts the anti-COVID-19 measures on the top priority.

According to the Playbook, participants must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to their departure to China, and a closed-loop system will be applied during Games participants' entire stay in China.

"All participants of the Games and our Chinese staff and volunteers will implement the same policy," Zhang said, "they will be strictly separated from the external society."

Within the closed-loop, Games participants and domestic staff will only be allowed to circulate in dedicated vehicles between permitted destinations such as Games venues, accommodation facilities, and dining facilities, according to the Playbook.

Zhang said those who do not comply with the regulations will face punishment as severe as expulsion from games.