Beijing Winter Games to Enforce Strict COVID-19 Rules

The Olympic and Paralympic sporting events are scheduled for February and March, respectively.

China will enforce strict coronavirus-related rules for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19, according to a list of measures published by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) on Wednesday.

All athletes and participants attending the Winter Games must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to their arrival in the Chinese capital, according to the IOC. Meanwhile, those not fully vaccinated will have to undergo a 21-day quarantine upon entering the country.

The Winter Olympics is scheduled to take place from Feb. 4-20 during the Lunar New Year holiday, also the country’s peak travel season. The Paralympic Games will be held from March 4-13.

While China will allow spectators for the Winter Olympics, tickets will only be sold to those residing in the Chinese mainland, the IOC said.

Olympic organizers said that the Winter Games in Beijing will be held under a “closed-loop management,” allowing athletes and all other participants to “move only between games-related venues.” All athletes and staff will also be subject to daily COVID-19 testing.

“The purpose is to hold a wonderful, safe, and simple Beijing Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics under the premise of ensuring safety,” Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said during a press conference Thursday.