Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics: Athletes Complain About Strict Covid-19 Measures ‘Violating Human Rights’

China – Many athletes from Western countries, who arrived in China to participate in Beijing Winter Olympics, were stunned to experience the strict COVID-19 restrictions.

Some of the athletes, who tested positive for COVID-19, were placed in quarantine for weeks in China. Other athletes complained about the food they were served during quarantine.

Reportedly, one Finnish coach has called the COVID-19 measures inside the Olympics bubble in Beijing a ‘violation of human rights.’ Some athletes argued that some of the Covid-19 measures are ‘inconvenient’ for the people inside the Olympics bubble. Olympics participants need to wear plastic gloves when they put food on their plates at the cafeteria. Reportedly, these measures are merely an inconvenience for people. Athletes are now facing daily Covid-19 tests inside the “closed-loop” that separates Olympic participants from the rest of the capital.

As per the news report by CNN, over 160 athletes or team officials have tested positive for COVID-19. They have been placed in isolation. Some participants who tested positive for COVID-19 were forced to miss their competitions. Reportedly, the Covid-19 positive people need to have two consecutive negative COVID-19 test results and no symptoms to return to the Olympics bubble.

Polish short track speed skater Natalia Maliszewska was under quarantine and missed her first competitive event. Reportedly, she cried because she missed the competition. She also wrote on Twitter, “My heart and my mind can’t take this anymore.”

She further revealed that she has faced fear and uncertainty in the isolation ward in Beijing. However, the Chinese authorities said that these measures are required to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

China is following a strict zero-Covid-19 approach, whereby snap lockdowns, mass testing, contact tracing, and tight border restrictions are imposed in the areas where cases of infection have been reported. Targeted lockdowns and restrictions were also seen in the cities of Beijing, Anyang, Tianjin and Shenzhen after they reported Covid-19 cases.