Organizers of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing, China, say only “selected” spectators will be allowed to attend the Games. No tickets will be sold to the general public. The announcement was made on January 17. It’s the latest step China has taken to fight another coronavirus outbreak.
The Beijing Olympics are scheduled to begin on February 4. It could be the most restricted large-scale sporting event since the pandemic began. The committee had already barred fans from outside China from attending.
Safety measures in China are becoming stricter with the spread of the Omicron variant. It is more contagious than past strains of the coronavirus. Beijing has confirmed its first case of Omicron. The variant was also found in Tianjin, about 70 miles from there.
At the Games, spectators will be allowed to clap. But they won’t be allowed to cheer. That can spread the virus. Robots will disinfect surfaces. Organizers say these measures will “create a pleasant environment for the holding of the Games.”
Stop and Think! Why is this story being published now? How might the details of the story change in the coming weeks?
More from World
Share a Link
- Click the icon above to copy the url link to your clipboard.
- Paste the link into the location in which you share assignments with students. Examples might include, but are not limited to Canvas, Schoology and Edmodo.
Google Classroom
- Click on the icon above to share the article with a class in your Google Classroom.
- Choose an action. Options might include creating an assignment or asking a question.
