Beijing 2022: competitions to be held behind closed doors from 04 to 20/02/2022

"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 (for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, from 04 to 20/02/2022) should not be sold anymore but be part of an adapted program that will invite groups of spectators to be present on site during the Games," states a press release from the organisers of the event on 17/01/2022.

The cause is the pandemic and the Omicron variant, the first case of which was detected in Beijing on 15/01/2022, while the neighbouring city of Tianjin has also been affected.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will therefore take place largely behind closed doors, like the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which were postponed to 2021 (see below).

Until now, tickets were being sold "exclusively to spectators residing in China's mainland who meet the requirements of Covid-19 countermeasures," reads the statement.

• The Tokyo Olympics, scheduled for 2020 and rescheduled from 23/07 to 08/08/2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, were held behind closed…