BEIJING, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Competitors at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will be subject to daily testing for COVID-19 and must remain in a closed circuit that includes transportation between venues, organizers said Monday.
China, where measures to address COVID-19 are among the strictest in the world, has already said that international spectators will not be allowed to enter the country for the Games that run from February 4 to 20.
The Asian giant has virtually closed its borders to international travelers, with the number of flights slashed from pre-COVID levels, and Games organizers said airlines will be encouraged to operate temporary flights available only to participants.
Games participants will be required to undergo a COVID-19 test prior to arrival, and athletes and team officials must be vaccinated to avoid 21 days of quarantine, with some exceptions for medical reasons granted on a case-by-case basis.
Organizers added that the closed-loop system has been designed to keep competitors safe by reducing unnecessary interactions.
Competitors will also be encouraged to wear masks and avoid closed, crowded or close-contact spaces, while all organizations participating in the Games will be asked to appoint COVID-19 Liaison Officers.
Vaccination is not mandatory for the Games, but some national Olympic committees, including those of the United States and Canada, require team members to be immunized.
(Reporting by Gabriel Crossley in Beijing; Additional reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru. Edited in Spanish by Javier Leira)
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