The Beijing Winter Olympics will begin in a month (February 4), marked by diplomatic boycotts, the coronavirus and the uncertainty about tennis player Peng Shuai.
From February 4 to 20, the Chinese capital will become the first city to host a Winter and Summer Games, after holding the latter in 2008.
Those jousts served as a cover letter for what would become the second largest economy in the world.
On this occasion, China’s communist rulers hope to inspire 300 million fans of winter sports and unite the world in the face of the pandemic.
Everything indicates that it will be the most restricted mass sporting event since the appearance of COVID-19, with almost 3,000 athletes and officials inside a “bubble” to prevent infections.
Organizers promised to make a “green, inclusive, open and clean” Games, but environmentalists question the proclamation, and pollution persists as a common threat in China, especially in winter.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi appeared to dismiss the controversies over the Games by declaring to the state press that “the manipulation of some Western politicians will not affect the excitement of the Games, it will only expose their own ugliness.”
Worried
Human rights groups called for a boycott of the rallies over the human rights situation in China, especially its treatment of Uighur Muslims in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
The US government announced in December that it would not send diplomatic or official representatives to the Games because of the “continuing genocides and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses.”
Beijing warned that the United States will “pay the price” for it, but that did not stop Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada from joining the diplomatic boycott. Athletes from those countries will participate.
China is also facing pressure to ensure the safety of tennis player Peng Shuai.
The 35-year-old athlete was not seen for nearly three weeks after accusing former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual abuse.
Peng has reappeared in public in China, but questions remain about his freedom and safety.
Another issue is the coronavirus. China, where the virus appeared in 2019, has followed a zero-COVID strategy with strict border controls, extensive quarantines and targeted closures. Xi’an, a city of 13 million, has been confined for almost two weeks.
The rise of the contagious omicron variant poses a challenge for the Games, and it has already had its impact because hockey players from the US NHL league will not go to Beijing because of the contagions.
David Shoemaker, secretary general of the Canadian Olympic Committee, admitted that “we are concerned.” “We are confident that the Games can be held safely, but we do it day by day,” he said.
The jousts are held six months after the Tokyo Games, postponed a year by the pandemic, and will be held in a closed bubble in which all athletes must be vaccinated, undergo daily COVID-19 tests and no one will be able to get out of the bubble.
Gu will light up Beijing
The Games will be held in three “zones” and will use new facilities and other 2008 facilities, including the “Bird’s Nest” national stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies.
China will accept spectators, unlike most events in Tokyo, but it is unclear how many people will be able to enter, and none will be able to come from abroad.
Among the expected stars, American skier Mikaela Shiffrin will seek her third Olympic gold, although her preparations have been affected by COVID-19 after testing positive.
Also in doubt is “Ice Prince” Yuzuru Hanyu, after injuring an ankle in a spectacular performance at the Japan National Ice Skating Championships.
There will also be great interest in American Chloe Kim, who won hearts by winning gold in snowboarding at age 17 at the 2018 Pyeonchang Games.
Meanwhile, skier Eileen Gu is emerging as one of the faces of the Games.
The 18-year-old student and model, born and raised in California, decided to represent China and is considered a favorite in skiing.
Sports forecaster Gracenote estimates that Norway will top the medal table for the second time at a Winter Games.
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