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The final touch: the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing begin in a good four months
Photo: Mark Schiefelbein / AP
In the USA, the following will apply in future: Only those who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus are allowed to attend the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing (February 4 to 20, 2022).
This emerges from the guidelines published on Wednesday by the Olympic and Paralympic Committee of the United States (USOPC).
Accordingly, from November 1st, all athletes, employees and others who have access to USOPC facilities must be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
By December 1, the mandate will be extended to all members of the US delegations or potential participants in future games.
Exceptions to the compulsory vaccination will be checked on a case-by-case basis.
Unvaccinated people who receive an exemption must therefore undergo daily corona tests, which are financed by the USOPC.
Support of activists and associations
The USOPC had hoped that the Covid-19 restrictions would be lifted by the end of the games in Tokyo, which were delayed by the pandemic, announced CEO Sarah Hirshland, but in reality the pandemic is “far from over”: “This step will be ours Improve the ability to create a safe and productive environment for the athletes and employees of Team USA, ”it continues.
And: The decision is supported by the Athletes Advisory Board and the Council of the National Sports Associations.
At the Summer Games in Tokyo, the USOPC did not require the Covid-19 vaccination.
Around 100 of the 613 active members of the US team traveled to Japan without vaccination protection last July.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also not issued a vaccination mandate for active people who take part in its events.
sak / sid / Reuters