By Esther Adesulu
Organisers of Beijing 2022 Olympics have moved to stop public sale of tickets for the winter games amid concerns about Covid.
The decision was arrived at just days after the first confirmed case of the Omicron variant was reported in the Chinese capital.
A statement released on Monday by the organizing committee said: “Given the current grave and complicated situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators, it was decided that tickets should not be sold anymore but be part of an adapted programme that will invite groups of spectators to be present on site during the Games.
“The organisers expect that these spectators will strictly abide by the COVID-19 countermeasures before, during and after each event as pre-conditions for the safe and sound delivery of the Games.”
Last year, the International Olympic Committee had suggested that tickets should be sold to domestic audiences, but the plans were dropped as China reported new covid cases.
The latest development comes after last year’s Tokyo Games were held behind closed doors amid fears of the virus spreading in Japan.
The 2022 Winter Olympics are set to kick off on February 4 and run until February 20 at venues in and around Beijing, making the Chinese capital the first city in modern history to host both a summer and winter Olympics.
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