Beijing Braces for Winter Games Amid Omicron Shake‑Up
China’s foreign ministry got the green light for a smooth, on‑schedule 2022 Winter Olympics, even as the new Omicron variant rolls in. Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian spilled the beans at a routine daily briefing on Tuesday, November 30.
“We’ll Lock It Down, No Problem!”
“I believe it will definitely pose some challenge to our efforts to prevent and control the virus, but as China has experience in preventing and controlling the coronavirus, I fully believe that China will be able to host the Winter Olympics as scheduled, smoothly and successfully,” Zhao said.
Key Game‑Plan
- Dates: February 4‑20
- No foreign spectators – lights, camera, only the athletes and staff are invited.
- Closed‑loop system – everyone stays on the sparkling Olympic grounds with daily Covid‑19 testing.
- Zero‑Covid policy – what many consider among the world’s most stringent prevention measures.
Why This Matters
The new variant means tighter security, but Beijing’s battle‑tested protocols suggest it’s nothing that the city can’t handle. With its track record of swift testing and rigorous containment, the Chinese authorities are confident they’ll deliver a successful, safe, and smooth Winter Games.
In Short
Despite the latest viral freckle, Beijing is set to host the Games with a tight, tested environment, keeping athletes and staff safe while showing the world that the winter sports are still cold‑heartedly happening.
