UPDATE: Chinese citizens will be the only ones permitted to buy tickets to the upcoming Winter Olympics, according to a ruling today by the International Olympic Committee.
The IOC said in a statement its decision was made in consultation with the Chinese government.
“Tickets will be sold exclusively to spectators residing in China’s mainland, who meet the requirements of the COVID-19 countermeasures. Specific requirements on COVID-19 countermeasures for spectators from China’s mainland and the details of ticketing arrangements are under discussion and development and will be released to the public in due course once they are finalized.”
“The IOC and IPC welcome the decision to allow for the sale of tickets to spectators residing in China’s mainland,” The committee said that they had also discussed the matter with China. “This 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 favorable atmosphere to the venues. 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.”
The IOC could be further under pressure due to the financial loss caused by the Tokyo Summer Olympics. This is particularly true given the fact that ratings for summer games have been declining.
The IOC stated previously that everyone participating in the 2022 Winter Olympics must have a vaccine. The IOC will consider any request for a medical exemption.
EARLIER: All athletes must be vaccinated against Covid-19 to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced Wednesday.
All USOPC contractors and employees must be vaccinated before November 1. All persons who wish to participate in the US delegation should be vaccinated before Dec. 1. There will be medical and religious exemptions.
To participate in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics, athletes did not need to be vaccinated.
The International Olympic Committee has not yet issued a vaccine mandate to Beijing Games athletes, which will begin February 4, 2022. That’s partially because access to vaccines is difficult in some parts of the world.
There are expected to be approximately 240 athletes from the US Olympics.