With the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics nearing, their organisers have dropped plans to have tickets to sporting events to the general public and invite groups of spectators instead, British public broadcaster BBC reports.
Earlier, the organisers of the major sporting event stated that there would be no international spectators, but had promised to allow domestic audiences. Now, China reported 223 new Covid-19 cases for Sunday, January 16, it has been decided to distribute tickets to invited groups of spectators only.
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The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will take place February 4 to 20. They will be followed by the 2022 Winter Paralympics from March 4. The organisers now seek to select spectators via official organisations and they will be expected to adhere to strict coronavirus countermeasures.
The International Olympic Committee’s statement announced: «Given the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators, it has been decided that tickets should not be sold anymore, but be part of an adapted programme that will invite groups of spectators to be present on site during the Games. (..) The organisers expect that these spectators will strictly abide by the Covid-19 countermeasures before, during and after each event so as to help create an absolutely safe environment for the athletes».