The Winter Olympics, starting in Beijing February 4, will be run in a self-contained ‘closed-loop management system’ that will isolate athletes, coaches officials and press from all outside contact during the Games. The same system will apply a month later for the Paralympics winter games.
Spectators will be allowed at the games, but no contact with athletes or others involved in the games, and no foreign spectators will be allowed. A ticket system for mainland China residents will require holders to go through strict protocols as well. That follows the no international visitor rule that was applied to the Summer Games in Tokyo.
The closed-loop system requires that all athletes and other participants by fully-vaccinated before entering the ‘bubble.’ Once in, they will only be able to move among Games-related bubbles for training, competition and work until the end of the games. A dedicated transit system will move them among venues, the Olympic village, and hotels that have been taken over for the events.
