Corona worries at the Olympics: is there a threat of cancellation because of Omikron?

Created: 01/12/2022, 10:28 AM

Omikron is not allowed in: China is preparing for difficult Olympic Games.

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The Beijing Olympics are taking place at a time when many countries are struggling with the Omicron variant.

Will the event even take place?

Beijing - Despite the Omicron variant of the corona virus, which is also spreading in China for the first time, the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing should go ahead as planned.

"Whatever difficulties and challenges we may encounter, our determination to host successful games as planned remains firm and steadfast," Organizing Committee spokesman Zhao Weidong told journalists on Tuesday.

IOC President Thomas Bach also made it clear that the games should "definitely" take place.

Olympics in Beijing: China is pursuing an uncompromising corona strategy

The local Omikron cases, which were registered in Beijing's neighboring city of Tianjin over the weekend, should not change the already strict corona measures for the games for the time being, according to the planners. "Unless there is a major outbreak in the competitive zones, we have not planned to adjust the countermeasures," said Huang Chun, deputy director of the pandemic prevention bureau's department. 

The number of Omicron cases in Tianjin rose to 50 on Monday.

Residents were urged not to leave the city without good reason.

The estimated 100,000 commuters who work in Beijing, 100 kilometers away, have been asked to work from home.

The capital set up checkpoints to control access.

Health authorities expected further infections.

Will the Olympics take place in Beijing?

Epidemiologists speak of "battle"

The highly contagious variant is likely to put China's strict zero-Covid strategy to the test with mass tests, curfews, quarantine and foreclosure.

In the state media, epidemiologists speak of the "first real battle" against Omikron in China. 

In order not to drag the virus into the country, all athletes and participants in the Olympic Games will spend their stay in a closed "bubble" without contact with the population.

The strict measures had already caused criticism from some athletes in the run-up to the games.