2022 Winter Olympics status updates, news articles, etc.

[Sylvia]

My main purpose is creating this thread was in response to seeing this question posed in GSD:

What measures have they put in place for Beijing 2022? I'm having a hard time finding any specific info online.

(And preferably not to focus on the political aspects...)

Excerpting the first part of this South China Morning Post article with headline "China’s National Games pose key test for Covid-19 controls ahead of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics" (rest is behind a paywall):

China is not taking any chances with Covid-19 as it prepares for the National Games – a critical test for next year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The host city Xian, capital of the northwestern province of Shaanxi, has enacted stringent restrictions as it gears up to accommodate tens of thousands of spectators for the games, the domestic equivalent of the Summer Olympics, which officially start on Wednesday and run until September 27.
Held once every four years, the games will be one of the first major sporting competitions to allow fans to cheer on athletes in person in the coronavirus era, although teenage and adult spectators must be fully vaccinated and have given a negative nucleic acid test within the previous 72 hours.

Bloomberg.com article dated Sept. 7, 2021 with headline "China Test-Drives Olympics Covid Restrictions at National Games": https://tinyurl.com/2nw6vt8m

Beijing organizers haven’t announced their Covid-containment measures, though long quarantines and athlete bubbles are inevitable. Authorities also plan to limit international arrivals ahead of and during the events.
Meanwhile, another mass athletic event will begin next week in Xi’an, showcasing measures Beijing might employ. Some 13,000 of the country’s top athletes will compete in the National Games, the biggest domestic sporting event since the pandemic began and widely considered a run-up to the Olympics, which begin Feb. 4.
In preparation, local authorities closed more than 4,000 restaurants, bars and tourist hotspots in mid-August and began mandatory Covid testing among Xi’An’s 13 million residents. During the games period, Shaanxi province will require all incoming travelers to have a negative covid test result.

Whether the Winter Olympics will allow spectators remains an open question. Fans from abroad are out of luck -- the government plans to cap international arrivals at 30,000, leaving little room for anyone beyond athletes, support personnel and official delegations. But Beijing could still decide to sell tickets to domestic fans.

It’s not clear, for example, whether China can require international competitors to be vaccinated. It would be hard to restrict domestic travel to or from the capital, considering events start on the fifth day of the Chinese New Year holiday, peak travel season in the world’s most populous country.

Dos anyone know know more about the part I've bolded above in the middle excerpt?

 

[Gris]

Dos anyone know know more about the part I've bolded above in the middle excerpt?

Here's an article in Chinese by Beijing Daily on July 29, after a meeting of the Organizing Committee, Beijing Municipal Health Commission and local officials.

Relevant part:

北京冬奥组委各部门正积极与国际奥委会、残奥委会、单项体育联合会、各国奥委会等沟通，建议外方充分考虑疫情防控的风险，尽量减少非必要人员入境；借鉴国际奥委会仅对东京奥运会中承担必要角色的人授予资格认证的做法，最大限度压减来华人员数量，降低感染传播风险，截至目前预估入境人员降为3万人以内。同时严格控制国内规模，在保证赛事组织工作正常开展的前提下优化人员架构，降低防疫风险。

A rough translation:

"Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games is now communicating actively with the International Olympics Committee, Paralympics Committee, sports federations and national Olympic committees, advising them to thoroughly consider the risk of p*ndemic control and minimize the entries of unnecessary personnel. Learn from the method the International Olympics Committee used in Tokyo Olympics, only accredit those who play necessary roles, minimize the number of people entering China and lower the risk of infection and transmission. So far, the estimated number of international arrivals has dropped to less than 30,000. Meanwhile, the domestic scale will be strictly controlled. Optimize the personnel structure under the premise of ensuring proper event organization to reduce the risk."

 

[manhn]

Why would it be difficult for China to require vaccination. You have to be fully vaccinated to visit Canada just for the hell of it (except Citizens and Permanent Residents, but then you have to quarantine for 14 days). Why would an Olympic athlete be exempt of this?

 

[Gris]

Why would it be difficult for China to require vaccination.

Probably because China doesn't approve foreign vaccines, at least not now.

 

[AxelAnnie]

My main purpose is creating this thread was in response to seeing this question posed in GSD:

(And preferably not to focus on the political aspects...)

Excerpting the first part of this South China Morning Post article with headline "China’s National Games pose key test for *********-19 controls ahead of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics" (rest is behind a paywall):

Bloomberg.com article dated Sept. 7, 2021 with headline "China Test-Drives Olympics ********* Restrictions at National Games": https://tinyurl.com/2nw6vt8m



Dos anyone know know more about the part I've bolded above in the middle excerpt?

Km

 

[AxelAnnie]

"It’s not clear, for example, whether China can require international competitors to be vaccinated. It would be hard to restrict domestic travel to or from the capital, considering events start on the fifth day of the Chinese New Year holiday, peak travel season in the world’s most populous country."


I think China can bloody well do anything they want. Don't they anyway? And at this point I suspect there is not a thing anyone can do about it. It is not the OLYS can move to another venue or something.

 

[skipaway]

USA Winter Olympians Must be Vaccinated

U.S. Athletes Trying To Make Winter Olympics Will Have To Be Vaccinated From COVID-19

The requirement will apply to athletes hoping to compete at Beijing 2022 and future games, announced the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

www.huffpost.com

 

[MacMadame]

USA Winter Olympians Must be Vaccinated

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wint...***-19-vaccination_n_614c78e9e4b03d83bad0033b

Here's a link that works

Team USA will only consider vaccinated athletes for 2022 Winter Olympics

US athletes trying to make the Winter Olympics will have to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 under a groundbreaking new policy

tinyurl.com

 

[Gris]

Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 - Updates on Spectators, Vaccination and COVID-19 Countermeasures - Olympic News

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) held an Executive Board (EB) meeting today, in the presence of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Beijing 2022 informed the EB of the principles that will help deliver safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as scheduled.

tinyurl.com

• Participants need to be fully vaccinated or they have to quarantine for 21 days (those who can provide a medical exemption will have their cases considered)
• Closed-loop management, those inside will be tested daily
• Tickets will only be sold to Chinese Mainland residents

ETA: Vaccines accepted:

All vaccines recognised by WHO or related international organisations, or approved officially by the countries or regions concerned, will be accepted.

 

[Sylvia]

IOC's press release yesterday (29 Sept.):

Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 - Updates on Spectators, Vaccination and COVID-19 Countermeasures - Olympic News

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) held an Executive Board (EB) meeting today, in the presence of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Beijing 2022 informed the EB of the principles that will help deliver safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as scheduled.

tinyurl.com

Excerpts:

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.

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.

Spectators/Ticketing

Tickets will be sold exclusively to spectators residing in China’s mainland, who meet the requirements of the COVID-19 countermeasures.

Specific requirements on COVID-19 countermeasures for spectators from China’s 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.

The IOC and IPC welcome the decision to allow for the sale of tickets to spectators residing in China’s mainland. 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. 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.

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.

Travel

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

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.

Testing

All domestic and international Games participants and workforce in the closed-loop management system will be subject to daily testing.

Further information about the implementation of these policies and additional information about COVID-19 countermeasures will be detailed in the Playbooks, which will be released in late October and December.

 

[skipaway]

Olympic Medals

Medals Explained

 

[Sylvia]

Canada and USA unveil 2022 Winter Olympic uniforms

The games are still over three months away, but Team USA and Team Canada are already facing off for style points.

www.cnn.com

Hot off the heels of Team Canada's six-year Lululemon partnership announcement on Tuesday -- which also included the unveiling of the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic opening and closing ceremony uniforms -- Ralph Lauren has released what the American athletes will wear for their closing looks.
Ralph Lauren has reigned over US Olympic styles as the official outfitter since 2008, but athleisure favorite Lululemon is a newcomer to the scene. That dynamic is evident in the outfits, as the American label has taken a classic approach while the Canadian brand has focused on a modular set of styles with Transformer-like features -- including a vest that turns into a pillow or scarf.

Jason Brown announced his paid partnership with Polo Ralph Lauren earier today (see his fan thread for related links): https://www.instagram.com/p/CVkzFWOrYvd/

There's also a separate Team Canada Olympic outfits thread here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/team-canada-olympic-outfits-revealed.108799/

 

[Sylvia]

Early snowfall covers 2022 Winter Olympics host city Beijing | AFP (Nov. 7, 2021):

Early snowfall covers 2022 Winter Olympics host city Beijing | AFP

Beijing, the city due to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, saw unexpected early snowfall for the season over the weekend. Having awoken to streets covered in wh...

www.youtube.com

Global Times article:

Beijing Winter Olympics fully prepared for cold waves, as artificial snowmaking meets low-carbon standards - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

For the outdoor events during the Games, there will be artificial snowmaking to provide athletes with the most suitable snow environment. Insiders said that the entire process will strictly comply with low-carbon, clean and green standards, and that concerns about the energy consumption of snowmaking are unfounded.
In Beijing, this winter's first major snowfall came 23 days earlier than usual, as a severe cold wave hit many parts of China over the weekend with heavy snowfalls and plunging temperatures.
Meteorologists said the climate phenomenon known as La Nina brought the unusually early snow. Many in this field believe that due to La Nina and changes in the atmospheric circulation, the northern parts of China are likely to experience an extremely cold winter, including the host cities of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Beijing and Zhangjiakou, North China's Hebei Province.

(Note: The Global Times website is published online in English under the auspices of the CCP's flagship People's Daily newspaper.),

 

[Coco]

Chinese professional tennis player Peng Shuai is missing after recently publishing accusations of sexual assault and coercion against a high ranking government official.

Deadspin | Tennis player Peng Shuai is missing after accusing a Chinese official of sexual assault

Deadspin | Tennis player Peng Shuai is missing after accusing a Chinese official of sexual assault

deadspin.com

 

[Sylvia]

Politically Incorrect forum thread (I've been posting political articles here, such as a likely U.S. diplomatic boycott):

Beijing Olympic Winter Games protests & politics thread

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/beijing-games-flame-lit-olympia-be-flown-china-tuesday-2021-10-18/ ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Human rights activists unfurled a banner reading "No Genocide Games", waved a Tibetan flag and called for a boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter...

www.fsuniverse.net

ETA:

Reuters article (Nov. 12, 2021):

China finds first COVID-19 cases among foreign athletes at test events

China reported on Friday the first COVID-19 cases among foreign athletes at preparatory events for the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Games, as stringent measures being put in place to control any outbreaks are put to the test.

tinyurl.com

Two lugers of the same nationality tested positive, said Huang Chun, an official of the Games organising committee.
Both have been transferred to quarantine hotels, he told a news briefing in the Chinese capital.

"We will still let the person take part in training and activities related to the games, but (the individual) needs to go though strict health monitoring and COVID-19 testing every day," Huang said, referring to the first athlete who tested positive.
The individual will also stay in their room, eat and ride in vehicles alone, Huang told reporters.
The second case was a close contact of the first athlete, he said, without giving details on their nationality.

 

[Sylvia]

Update from the NYTimes about on the luger's injury that was mentioned in the Reuters article linked above:

An injured Olympic athlete was flown home on a cargo plane because of Covid rules in Beijing. (Published 2021)

A Polish luger, Mateusz Sochowicz, was told that coronavirus restrictions prevented him from boarding a commercial flight for another two weeks.

tinyurl.com

A Polish luge athlete who was injured during a Winter Olympics training event near Beijing was flown out of China on a cargo plane this week after coronavirus restrictions prevented him from taking a commercial flight, according to the head of Poland’s luge association.
The incident speaks to the kinds of complications that could arise at next year’s Winter Games, which are scheduled to begin on Feb. 4 in accordance with strict health protocols. For training and other events in the prelude to the Games, athletes and team officials are not allowed to move about freely until they have spent 21 days inside a bubblelike training and competition zone.
The luger, Mateusz Sochowicz, 25, hit a barrier and fractured his leg on Nov. 8 while training on the track that will be used during the Winter Games. He was hospitalized near Beijing, and the International Luge Federation said that it and the local track operator were introducing additional safety measures for the Games after the accident.
But when organizers tried to arrange for Mr. Sochowicz to travel back to Poland on a commercial flight, they were told that Covid regulations prevented him from doing so for another two weeks, according to Janusz Tatera, the head of Poland’s luge federation.

ETA link to the Tennis thread where more links are posted re. Peng Shuai's situation: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/love-balls-and-courting-tennis-v.96364/page-61#post-6110696

 

[Coco]

Us Olympic Trials for curling are on peacock right now, live

 

[Sylvia]

U.S. Olympic short track team roster finalized on last day of trials

Maame Biney led six short track speed skaters to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team at trials on Sunday, joining Kristen Santos.

olympics.nbcsports.com

Returning Olympian Maame Biney and five more short track speed skaters qualified for the U.S. team for Beijing on the last day of the Olympic trials on Sunday.
Corinne Stoddard, Julie Letai, Eunice Lee, Ryan Pivirotto and Andrew Heo also qualified based on results over three days of racing at the Utah Olympic Oval outside Salt Lake City.
They join Kristen Santos, the lone American man or woman ranked in the top 10 in the world in any event, who grabbed the first spot on the team on Saturday.

Team USA athletes who have qualified for 2022 Beijing ("So far, 35 athletes have qualified or been named to the team. Athletes aren’t officially on the team until approved by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee."):

Team USA athlete roster for 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

A list of athletes already qualified for or named to the U.S. Olympic team for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.

olympics.nbcsports.com

NHL player participation status not looking good as of today:

Report: NHL players will not be attending 2022 Olympics

All signs are pointing towards the NHL not sending players to the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

 

[Sylvia]

Dec. 15 article:

Beijing 2022 says taskforce will support stakeholders to secure Olympic flights

Beijing 2022 says a taskforce is being established to support stakeholders to secure flights for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

www.insidethegames.biz

Concerns over a lack of flights have persisted in the build-up to the Games, amid tight restrictions on entering China due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overseas attendees to the Games are set to rely on chartered or temporary planes to take them to the Chinese capital.
Thousands of athletes and officials are expected to head to Beijing for the Winter Olympics, scheduled to run from February 4 to 20 next year.
Temporary flights are set to be arranged from four hubs, located in Hong Kong, Paris, Singapore and Tokyo.
The first point of entry into China must be Beijing Capital International Airport.

Version 2 of the Beijing 2022 Playbooks published - Olympic News

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (Beijing 2022) have published the second edition of the Beijing 2022 Playbooks today.

olympics.com

 

[Sylvia]

Madison Chock is one of the Olympic athletes featured in this Delta Air Lines promo video : https://www.instagram.com/p/CXeIj85FUps/

"We're thrilled to partner with @teamusa and support its journey to the Olympic and Paralympic Games over the next seven years. What better way to wish them luck than on an A330-900?

Swipe to see our new livery ✈" (unveiled at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Dec. 17, 2021): https://www.instagram.com/p/CXl08fhuX7I/

Glimpse of the process of the plane being prepared & painted: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CXjOsR7lWCl/

 

[Spikefan]

NHL players will not participate in the Beijing Olympics.

N.H.L. Players Will Skip Beijing Olympics (Published 2021)

Less than four months after agreeing to send hockey’s top stars to the Games, the N.H.L. and its players’ union have reversed course amid a rise in coronavirus cases.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Judy]

NHL players will not participate in the Beijing Olympics.

N.H.L. Players Will Skip Beijing Olympics (Published 2021)

Less than four months after agreeing to send hockey’s top stars to the Games, the N.H.L. and its players’ union have reversed course amid a rise in coronavirus cases.

www.nytimes.com

Yeah there goes good hockey but not a shock.

 

[Seerek]

But at this point, none of the top European leagues have made a similar announcement for their players (KHL, SHL, Swiss NL, Czech, German, etc.).

Will be interesting to see if any of those leagues follow suit.

 

[Lil Sarah]

The NHL hasn’t let them play in the last few Olympics anyway, have they? I think it’s their perfect excuse to say no

 

[skatingguy]

The NHL hasn’t let them play in the last few Olympics anyway, have they? I think it’s their perfect excuse to say no

Just the last Olympics - so this makes two in a row, and yes the NHL is happy the players aren't going.

 

[allezfred]

It’s not like anybody cares about ice hockey though innit.

 

[Frau Muller]

Rules of the Beijing 2022 Games’ “bubble”! Even stricter than at the Tokyo Summer Games. Nobody - not even journalists - will be allowed to leave the bubble, even after quarantine time. No high-fives or hugs…

China plans for Beijing Olympic bubble with no holes or hugs

February's Beijing Winter Olympics look set to be the strictest mass sporting event since the coronavirus pandemic.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Sylvia]

All the 'bubble' rules & guidelines are published here:

Beijing 2022 Playbooks

IOC News, Playbooks and Documents

olympics.com

 

[hoptoad]

Are countries allowed to have alternates on site in case of last minute positive tests?

 

[Frau Muller]

Canada takes tough stand on China (not just about Olympics but the boycotts are mentioned):

Trudeau says western countries need to stand together against China

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau implored western countries to stand together against China, arguing that China has often been 'playing' western countries against each other

www.yahoo.com