Beijing Winter Olympics Will Allow Spectators — But Only From Mainland China

Enlarge this image

A crew member leaps to fix a logo for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing earlier this month. The International Olympic Committee says it will allow fans from mainland China to attend the competition in person.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

hide caption

toggle caption

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Live Updates: The Tokyo Olympics
A Lonely Olympics For Athletes Competing To Be Champions

The IOC says having spectators in the stands for the Winter Games «will facilitate the growth of winter sports in China by giving those spectators a first-hand Olympic and Paralympic experience of elite winter sports, as well as bringing a favourable atmosphere to the venues.»

The games, which will take place in February, will include several COVID-19 policies that were in place for the Summer Games in Tokyo.

Sports
Italy Will Host The 2026 Olympic And Paralympic Winter Games

As far as vaccination policy goes, athletes and participants in the games will not be required to be fully vaccinated, but those who are not will have to serve a 21-day quarantine upon arrival in Beijing.

A similar Olympic bubble system will exist in Beijing, and the participants in the games and those staffing will be subject to daily COVID-19 testing, the IOC says.

Beijing will host the winter Olympic Games from Feb. 4 to 20 and the Paralympic Games from March 4 to 13.

• 2022 olympics
• 2022 Winter Games
• International Olympic Committee
• China
• IOC
• Beijing