2022 Beijing Winter Olympics tickets are not allowed overseas viewers, limited only to mainland China spectators

Winter Olympics 2022 in Beijing will be held without fans from overseas with tickets limited to fans living in China on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reported. Tickets for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will be sold to viewers from mainland China only, while unvaccinated athletes should go through 21 days in quarantine before the Games, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.

Coordinators of the Beijing Games have informed the IOC’s executive board regarding the standards to deliver a “safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as scheduled,” the committee said.

The Beijing Games begins on February 4 and the Chinese capital will become the first to have hosted both summer and winter editions after likewise organizing the Beijing 2008 Summer Games.

While recognizing dissatisfaction among international fans who can not join in, the IOC welcomed the decision to have Chinese observers after the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics in July was held with empty stadiums because of COVID-19 precautions.

It is additionally good news for broadcasting rights holders and sponsors, following the coverage of the Tokyo Games with empty stands behind the scenes.

The IOC said among the Beijing security standards were that all fully vaccinated participants would enter what is called a “closed-loop management system” promptly upon their arrival, within which they will move openly.

They won’t have to quarantine and this system will cover all Games-related regions and stadiums as well as accommodation, catering and the opening and closing ceremonies, served by a dedicated transport system.

All domestic and international participants, as well as the workforce in the system, will be tested every day, the IOC said.

Participants who are not fully vaccinated should go through 21 days in quarantine while showing up in the Chinese capital. The actual Games last 16 days altogether.

The IOC likewise said only fully vaccinated participants at the Games, which start on February 4, would be absolved from a 21-day quarantine upon the appearance, except if competitors can give a “justified medical exemption”.

“Athletes who can provide a justified medical exemption will have their cases considered,” the IOC said in a statement.

“This will facilitate the growth of winter sports in China … as well as bringing a favorable atmosphere to the venues,” the IOC said.

“However, all parties feel for the athletes and the spectators from around the world, knowing that the restriction on spectators from outside mainland China had to be put in place in order to ensure the safe holding of the Games this winter.”

It will stay in place for right around two months until after the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games close on March 13.

More details on the organizers’ plans will be included for the Beijing Games playbooks to be given in October and December.

Vaccination isn’t compulsory for the Beijing Games however some national Olympic committees, including that of the United States, are requiring all team members for Beijing to be vaccinated.

China on Wednesday said 1.05 billion individuals were fully vaccinated as of Tuesday.