Covid Rules for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

30th September 2021

Last modified on October 3rd, 2021

The IOC has released details of likely rules for spectators, vaccination regulations & Covid-19 measures. The only spectators will be locals & there will be strict quarantine & testing requirements for the unvaccinated.

Spectators will be allowed at events, but tickets will only go to locals.

“This will facilitate the growth of winter sports in China by giving those spectators a first-hand Olympic and Paralympic experience of elite winter sports, as well as bringing a favourable atmosphere to the venues,” said a statement from the IOC.

“However, all parties feel for the athletes and the spectators from around the world, knowing that the restriction on spectators from outside mainland China had to be put in place in order to ensure the safe holding of the Games this winter.”

Overseas spectators will be barred.

Unvaccinated athletes will face stricter quarantine regulations than those that have been vaccinated and will have to go into quarantine for 21-days.

Some countries have already said their athletes must be vaccinated in order to compete.

US athletes at Beijing 2022 must be vaccinated

There will be a transportation system for all athletes, teams and officials and they can only move between venues and Olympic centres using a dedicated transport.

People within this bubble will be subject to testing on a daily basis.

The measures will be assessed and discussed with interested parties and the IOC is expected to confirm details in October and again in December.

@ PlanetSKI

Here are the full details as released by the IOC:

1. Vaccination policy

All athletes and Games participants who are fully vaccinated will enter the closed-loop management system upon arrival. Games participants who are not fully vaccinated will have to serve a 21-day quarantine upon arrival in Beijing.
Athletes who can provide a justified medical exemption will have their cases considered.
All vaccines recognised by WHO or related international organisations, or approved officially by the countries or regions concerned, will be accepted.

2. Games-time closed-loop management

From 23 January until the end of the Paralympics, a closed-loop management system will be implemented to ensure the safe delivery of the Games. This closed-loop management system will cover all Games-related areas, including arrival and departure, transport, accommodation, catering, competitions, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Within the closed loop, participants will be allowed to move only between Games-related venues for training, competitions and work. A dedicated Games transport system will be put in place.

3. Spectators/Ticketing

Tickets will be sold exclusively to spectators residing in Chinas mainland, who meet the requirements of the COVID-19 countermeasures.
Specific requirements on COVID-19 countermeasures for spectators from Chinas mainland and the details of ticketing arrangements are under discussion and development, and will be released to the public in due course once they are finalised.

4. Accredited guest policy

Beijing 2022 and the IOC underlined that all activities are being assessed and optimised to focus on essential aspects of Games delivery. Stakeholders will apply this principle for their plans and delegation composition.
In line with this principle, the IOC EB decided to cancel the accompanying guest category for all stakeholders.

5. Travel

Beijing 2022 will assist those stakeholders that are not in a position to book their pre-Games or Games-time flights independently.

6. Accommodation

Besides athletes and some delegation officials who are accompanying athletes living in the Villages, all participants travelling to Beijing will reside in Beijing 2022-contracted hotels that will be compliant with the COVID-19 countermeasures for the Games.

7. Testing