SAFE AND SPLENDID

With more than 10,000 athletes, journalists and officials from around the world having descended on Beijing, the organizers met the daunting challenge of holding a safe Games by employing a closed loop system that went into operation in late January.

Typified by daily nucleic acid testing and designated shuttle buses connecting different facilities, the closed loop saw COVID-19 cases decline from a peak of 26 cases on February 2 to zero on February 13 and only one new positive case was reported since February 16.

Photo taken on Jan. 10, 2022 shows hand sanitizer at the Main Media Center for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. [Xinhua/Xu Zijian]

"The situation inside the closed loop is safe and there is no sign of virus transmission, which can be said to have met our expectations," said Brian McCloskey, chief of the Beijing 2022 Medical Expert Panel.

Christophe Dubi, the IOC's Olympic Games Executive Director, spoke highly of China's efforts to hold a virus-free Olympics. "Really no effort is spared, no stone unturned to keep everybody safe. The degree of sophistication of the operation is something unprecedented," he said.

"The COVID-19 countermeasures at the Village were at the highest level, and officials were diligent on social distancing and mask-wearing requirements. After each meal, tables and eating areas were disinfected," said Furkan Akar, a Turkish short-track speed skater.

China has lived up to its promise of delivering the world a "safe and splendid" Winter Olympics, as it also went to great lengths to showcase a future world which has robot chefs cooking meals, self-driving cars and smart navigation supported by augmented reality and artificial intelligence.

Off the competition venues, athletes have taken to social media to share stories about their life since arrival, and dishes that satiate their appetites are among the most popular hashtags.

"It is very obvious that the athletes are happy and are more than happy. They are extremely satisfied with the venues, with the Villages, with the services having been offered, and with the safety within the closed loop under these very difficult circumstances," said IOC chief Bach.

And the Games has attracted unparalleled viewership. According to Timo Lumme, managing director of television and marketing services for the IOC, about two billion people worldwide have been tuning in to watch the Olympics.

"The IOC-owned Olympic social media accounts have surpassed 2.7 billion engagements for Beijing 2022. There, I'm not speaking of the many other means and platforms," Bach said, noting the trend towards digital engagement with the Games is also record-breaking.