Japanese media: Japanese athletes feel the strict epidemic prevention of the Winter Olympics

Japan's Asahi Shimbun Article on December 16, original title: "Welcome to China": The Winter Olympics in the eyes of foreign Olympians are only 50 days away from the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 4, 2022. Although the Winter Olympics are still accompanied by the risk of epidemics, China has implemented stricter epidemic prevention measures than the Tokyo Olympics.

When the Japanese ski delegation arrived at the hotel in Beijing, staff in protective suits began disinfecting their luggage and clothes. The contestants then checked into the hotel, which hung a banner that read "Welcome to China." From the 2nd to the 5th of this month, the Nordic Biathlon Intercontinental Cup International Test Competition was held in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. Many of the world's top players gathered at this competition. Japanese athletes and coaches said that the Japanese delegation set out from Frankfurt, Germany, to Beijing on the 1st. Air China's counter staff at Frankfurt Airport and flight attendants on board wore protective clothing. After the plane landed at the designated terminal, the athletes' delegation took the designated bus to the hotel.

Japanese athlete Shotaro Kobayashi, who finished second in the competition on the 5th, said: "There is a disinfectant smell similar to chlorine everywhere. "Sprinkling things in public places like corridors and elevators often feels quite wet. Athletes can only play in hotels and venues, and all trips are carried out by special buses. There is a supermarket, treadmills and other facilities on site. Strict epidemic prevention measures can also be seen everywhere when traveling by plane and high-speed rail.

Obviously, compared with the Tokyo Olympic Games, the epidemic prevention measures prepared by the Beijing Winter Olympics are more stringent. During the Tokyo Olympics, the relevant personnel can travel to Tokyo through Haneda or Narita Airport. The Beijing Winter Olympics will only allow direct flights to Beijing Capital Airport. During the Tokyo Olympics, there were successive cases in which athletes or staff did not comply with the relevant (epidemic prevention) regulations and went out at will. Those who violate the relevant regulations during the Beijing Winter Olympic Games will be fined or no longer allowed to participate. The Winter Olympics also set up special passages and vehicles. In addition, in terms of mask requirements, the official recommendation to use non-woven masks at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The Beijing Winter Olympics must wear medical masks. The epidemic prevention manual of the Beijing Winter Olympics also added "encourage vaccination and strengthen the needle". (Author Katsumi Shoshi, etc., strict translation)