Safety first

Amid the pandemic, comprehensive measures have been put in place in order to ensure a safe and secure Games.

"After years of preparations for the Beijing Olympic Winter Games, I think we are ready to provide the best quality services in medical care, accommodation, catering and other aspects," said Yu Debin, head of the services department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG).

Yu said the pandemic must be considered a major threat to the safe operation of the Games.

BOCOG, together with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC), recently published the second edition of the Beijing 2022 Playbook, which outlines all the COVID-19 countermeasures for the Games.

For the safety of Olympic-related personnel and the city, a special "closed-loop" system will be implemented. It allows fully vaccinated Olympic-related personnel to enter China without undergoing a compulsory 21-day quarantine.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading globally and poses an extra challenge to the safety of the Games, so we must take rigorous virus prevention and control measures for Beijing 2022," Yu said.

"We will do our best to strictly follow the closed-loop policy, and I do hope that all of the participants can follow those safety rules. That's the key to guaranteeing a safe Games," he said.

Beijing and Zhangjiakou held a series of test events in recent months, with the COVID-19 countermeasures proving effective during those events, Yu noted.

As for the catering services, Yu is confident athletes will enjoy the cuisine.

"There is an old saying in China: The food is what matters most to the people. When I attended international meetings in recent years, overseas friends remembered not only the gold medals that China won in the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, but also the Chinese food. At Beijing 2022, we can create similar memories," Yu said.

As Beijing 2022 coincides with China's Spring Festival, organizers are aiming to generate a festive atmosphere for participants.

Some local dishes, such as Beijing roast duck and glutinous rice balls, will be on the menu to help Olympic participants learn more about Chinese cuisine, said Yu.

Anti-virus measures such as social distancing and hand disinfection facilities will be in place in dining halls, according to Yu. All the catering materials are monitored and traceable thanks to the support of local government and health authorities.

The 2022 Olympic Winter Games will take place between Feb 4 and 20, with the Paralympic Winter Games following from March 4 to 13.

Xinhua