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BEIJING, Jan. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

When Beijing first won the hosting rights for the 2022 Winter Games, the

Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) made a promise to

turn 300 million Chinese people into winter sports lovers. Zhao Weidong is a

spokesperson of Beijing Winter Olympics Organising Committee and also the

Director of the Media & Communications Department of Beijing Organising

Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Zhao did his best

to get into the Olympic spirit by learning to ski, a sport unfamiliar to many

in China. Zhao's first foray into skiing was full of falling and frustration,

but after a few lessons he gradually got the hang of it. His own experience of

mastering skiing sets an example for many more Chinese to take up this

activity, no matter the learning curve.

However, the global Covid-19 pandemic presents a hurdle that cannot be overcome

with enthusiasm alone. With the pandemic still ongoing, the Beijing Winter

Olympics Organising Committee is taking no chances with the safety of the

competitors and staff. Beginning with the Tokyo Games last year, the IOC and

the host city's organizing committee have released playbooks to athletes and

officials to ensure that all participants and residents remain safe and

healthy. The second edition of the Beijing 2022 Playbook was released last

month, which covered all COVID-19 countermeasures, including vaccination,

customs entry requirements and game-time health monitoring and isolation.

Beijing will deploy a closed-loop strategy to ensure that visiting athletes and

officials can compete in a comparatively safe zone which is isolated from the

general public. This strict strategy will ensure public safety and can serve as

a template for future sporting events. Tickets for the upcoming Games will not

be sold to overseas spectators or any spectators from high risk areas within

China. In response to these restrictions, Beijing Winter Olympics Organising

Committee has done trial runs for spectators at test events at the venues. Zhao

and the rest of the Organising Committee are adamant that the Games can

entertain fans of winter sports.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-01-06/300-Million-People-Hit-the-Ice-Snow-16BlyVAEuUo/index.html

Source: CGTN

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   Caption: Exclusive with Spokesperson of Beijing Winter Olympics Organising Committee

Zhao Weidong on Beijing 2022 Winter Games