Omicron: China warns of challenges for Winter Olympics
Tibetan activists stand in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters during a protest ahead of the February's Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, on November 26, 2021 in Lausanne.
What you need to know:
- Thousands of athletes, media and participants arriving from overseas are required to enter a strict "closed-loop" bubble.
- Organisers last month admitted that the virus would be the "biggest challenge" in hosting the Games.
Beijing
China warned Tuesday that the fast-spreading Omicron Covid-19 variant would cause challenges in hosting next February's Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Although China has largely quashed the coronavirus within its borders through travel restrictions and snap lockdowns, recurrent domestic outbreaks linked to the Delta variant have put the authorities on high alert.
"I think it will definitely lead to challenges linked to prevention and control," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, adding that Beijing "appreciates the efforts by South Africa in offering timely information" on the variant.
"But China has a lot of experience in responding to Covid-19," Zhao added. "I firmly believe the Winter Olympics will be conducted smoothly."
China is determined to pull off a smooth Olympic Games unmarred by Covid-19, in what would be a decisive propaganda win for Beijing's zero-tolerance Covid strategy.
Thousands of athletes, media and participants arriving from overseas are required to enter a strict "closed-loop" bubble.
Organisers last month admitted that the virus would be the "biggest challenge" in hosting the Games.
