The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (Beijing 2022) published the first editions of the Beijing 2022 Playbooks today.
The two Playbooks, one for athletes and team officials, and one for all other stakeholders, provide comprehensive COVID-19 guidelines that will help participants prepare for travelling to and arriving in China, fulfilling their roles at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and their departure from Beijing.
The two Playbooks cover the whole journey of all Games participants, detailing the requirements for entry and the measures that will be in place within the closed-loop management system. This includes further details of the key policies outlined at the recent IOC Executive Board meeting. The key principles outlined in the Playbooks are:
Closed loop management:To allow everyone to perform their day-to-day activities that are essential to their roles during the Games - a special system has been defined to keep Games participants and people in China safe through reducing unnecessary interactions. This closed loop system allows Games participants to enter China without undergoing a compulsory 21-day quarantine, subject to them being fully vaccinated according to the Playbooks.
Vaccination:Vaccines are proven to reduce infection with and transmission of COVID-19 and are a key tool in enabling activities to be carried out safely. It will be mandatory to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to departure for China, in order to be allowed in the closed loop system without quarantine. Anyone not fully vaccinated according to the Playbooks will need to quarantine for 21 days upon arrival in Beijing. Exceptions may be granted for athletes and team officials on a case-by-case basis, based on medical reasons.
Test, trace and isolate:Strict protocols will be in place to identify who has the COVID-19 virus as early as possible through testing; to understand to whom the virus might have been passed through contact tracing; and to use isolation and quarantine to stop the virus from spreading further.
Minimise Physical Interaction:COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through small liquid particles in our breath exhaled by coughing, sneezing, talking, shouting or singing. That’s why it’s important to be vaccinated, minimise physical interaction, wear a mask, and avoid spaces that are enclosed, crowded or involve close contact.
Think Hygiene:The basics of good hygiene are important to keeping everyone safe – regularly and thoroughly cleaning our hands, disinfecting surfaces, avoiding touching our face, and wearing a face mask at all times.
COVID-19 Liaison Officers:Every organisation taking part in the Games will soon be asked to nominate COVID-19 Liaison Officer(s) (CLO). The CLO will support Games participants in making sure that they understand the contents of the Playbooks and the importance of complying with them.
The second editions of the Playbooks are planned to be published later this year。
(DOWNLOAD THE PLAYBOOKS HERE)
