Olympic Winter Games 2022
Strict zero-Covid strategy: Beijingers are not allowed to provide accident assistance for Olympic vehicles
Ice hockey in the front, protective suits in the back. The 2022 Winter Olympics are to take place in a “closed cycle”.
© Mark Schiefelbein / AP / DPA
The Chinese authorities are doing everything possible to prevent contacts between locals and Olympic participants. Because of the corona pandemic, people in Beijing have now also been prohibited from helping in accidents with Olympic vehicles.
The Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in 2022 will probably be the first sporting event in a “closed cycle”. Because of the zero-covid strategy, the Chinese authorities want to ensure that neither athletes nor other participants such as media representatives or officials come into contact with the public. One consequence: The residents of the capital are requested not to provide any accident assistance. “In the case of traffic accidents with special vehicles for the Olympic Winter Games, please make sure to keep a safe distance,” said the traffic authority. “Do not make any contact with the vehicles or the personnel inside and wait for specialists to arrive at the scene of the accident.”
The Beijing Winter Olympics begin on February 4th. Because of the corona pandemic, the Chinese authorities had already started sealing off the sports facilities and helpers last week. In the coming weeks, thousands of participants will be prohibited from direct contact with the outside world. A complete corona vaccination or a 21-day quarantine is required to enter the Olympic security area. Anyone who is within the security area is tested daily and must always wear a mask.
First Omnikron falls near Beijing
Over the weekend, the first local omicron cases appeared in the northeast Chinese city of Tianjin, a neighboring city of Beijing, and the leadership ordered mass tests for the entire population. While the state broadcaster CCTV initially reported two Omikron cases in the city on Sunday, the state newspaper “Global Times” reported 20 corona infections, but left it open as to whether they were all of the Omikron variant. Two Omicron cases were detected on Monday in the city of Anyang, central China’s Henan Province.
Some observers believe that if the more contagious Omicron variant is spread, it will be much more difficult for China, and the number of infections nationwide will be as low as before.
Sources: AFP, DPA, N-TV