Slamming China for politicising the Winter Olympics, India on Thursday announced that its Chargé d' Affaires (Cd’A) will not be attending the opening and&nbsp;closing ceremonies&nbsp;of the Games in Beijing.

This comes a day after a regiment commander of the People’s Liberation Army, who fought against India in the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, was made the torchbearer during the Olympics relay on Wednesday.

The images of Qi Fabao were shared in a tweet by the Global Times, an English news outlet associated with the Chinese Communist Party.

In response to WION’s question at the weekly presser, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “It is indeed regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicise an event like Olympics. I wish to inform you that India’s Chargé d' Affaires in Beijing will not be attending the opening or the closing ceremonies&nbsp;of the Beijing Olympics.”

Acquino Vimal is India's Cd’A in Beijing and the new Indian envoy Pradeep Rawat is yet to present his credentials.

China's aggressive actions in Galwan in eastern Ladakh led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. China claimed to have lost only 4 of its soldiers, but new estimates that have emerged show the number could be much higher.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mixing-sports-with-politics-chinese-soldier-involved-in-galwan-clash-becomes-torchbearer-at-winter-olympics-449839">Mixing sports with politics? Chinese soldier involved in Galwan clash becomes torchbearer at Winter Olympics</a>

Since then, the ties have gone downhill even as China continues to provoke, including through its embassy in Delhi, by writing letters to Indian MPs for participating in the Tibet event.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: PLA soldier from Galwan clashes turns Olympics torchbearer

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-pla-soldier-from-galwan-clashes-turns-olympics-torchbearer-449976/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Meanwhile, the Winter Olympics, which is due to begin on Friday, has seen diplomatic boycott by a number of countries, especially the West. Only one Indian athlete will be present at the games.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-suffered-a-huge-loss-in-the-galwan-valley-clash-fabricated-stories-to-the-world-australian-newspaper-449997">China suffered a huge loss in the Galwan Valley clash, ‘fabricated’ stories to the world: Australian newspaper</a>

Most of the leaders attending the opening ceremony are China's allies or partners. Among them are Russian President Putin, Pakistani PM Imran Khan and leaders of all five Central Asian Countries.

China has been using the Games to showcase normalcy in the country amid the Covid crisis.

Activists are even calling it "genocide games" over China's human rights abuses in the restive western province of Xinjiang.

Slamming China for politicising the Winter Olympics, India on Thursday announced that its Chargé d' Affaires (Cd’A) will not be attending the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games in Beijing.

Slamming China for politicising the Winter Olympics, India on Thursday announced that its Chargé d' Affaires (Cd’A) will not be attending the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games in Beijing. This comes a day after a regiment commander of the People’s Liberation Army, who fought against India in the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, was made the torchbearer during the Olympics relay on Wednesday. The images of Qi Fabao were shared in a tweet by the Global Times, an English news outlet associated with the Chinese Communist Party. In response to WION’s question at the weekly presser, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “It is indeed regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicise an event like Olympics. I wish to inform you that India’s Chargé d' Affaires in Beijing will not be attending the opening or the closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics.” Acquino Vimal is India's Cd’A in Beijing and the new Indian envoy Pradeep Rawat is yet to present his credentials. China's aggressive actions in Galwan in eastern Ladakh led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. China claimed to have lost only 4 of its soldiers, but new estimates that have emerged show the number could be much higher. Also read | Mixing sports with politics? Chinese soldier involved in Galwan clash becomes torchbearer at Winter Olympics Since then, the ties have gone downhill even as China continues to provoke, including through its embassy in Delhi, by writing letters to Indian MPs for participating in the Tibet event. Watch | Gravitas: PLA soldier from Galwan clashes turns Olympics torchbearer Meanwhile, the Winter Olympics, which is due to begin on Friday, has seen diplomatic boycott by a number of countries, especially the West. Only one Indian athlete will be present at the games. Also read | China suffered a huge loss in the Galwan Valley clash, ‘fabricated’ stories to the world: Australian newspaper Most of the leaders attending the opening ceremony are China's allies or partners. Among them are Russian President Putin, Pakistani PM Imran Khan and leaders of all five Central Asian Countries. China has been using the Games to showcase normalcy in the country amid the Covid crisis. Activists are even calling it "genocide games" over China's human rights abuses in the restive western province of Xinjiang.

Galwan soldier row: India's top diplomat in China not to attend Beijing Winter Olympics ceremonies

Defending champion Mikael Kingsbury of Canada easily beat his rivals to lead the Olympic men`s freestyle moguls qualifying on Thursday, ahead of Sweden`s Walter Wallberg and France`s Benjamin Cavet.

Kingsbury, who won the gold medal in Pyeongchang four years ago and silver at the 2014 Sochi Games, soared to a high score of 81.15 points, flying over the course in just over 24 seconds.

"I know it`s not my best skiing, but for today I didn`t try to do too much, I did exactly what I wanted and I am very satisfied with the result," he said, adding he would be back for the final "stronger".

Wallberg picked up 79.12 points, but the Swede assured he was holding something back. Calling his first run "solid", Wallberg was pleased with his smooth performance, making a heart sign to the cameras at the bottom of the course.

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"Plans for the finals is to ski a bit faster and add an extra spin at the bottom ... just to push a bit more," the 21-year-old said. 
Japan and Sweden each got two skiers into the top 10.

Daichi Hara, who won bronze in Pyeongchang, said he felt immense pressure.

"The fact that it was my second time and the added title of being a medallist was weighing on me and I felt like I couldn`t have fun until the very beginning," Hara told reporters.

"That`s why I tried to smile as much as possible at the top and kept telling myself `have fun, have fun` and I was able to do just that."

The top 10 skiers from the first round of qualifying automatically advance to the final, with a second round of qualifiers to be held on Saturday.

Defending champion Mikael Kingsbury of Canada easily beat his rivals to lead the Olympic men`s freestyle moguls qualifying on Thursday, ahead of Sweden`s Walter Wallberg and France`s Benjamin Cavet.

Defending champion Mikael Kingsbury of Canada easily beat his rivals to lead the Olympic men`s freestyle moguls qualifying on Thursday, ahead of Sweden`s Walter Wallberg and France`s Benjamin Cavet. Kingsbury, who won the gold medal in Pyeongchang four years ago and silver at the 2014 Sochi Games, soared to a high score of 81.15 points, flying over the course in just over 24 seconds. "I know it`s not my best skiing, but for today I didn`t try to do too much, I did exactly what I wanted and I am very satisfied with the result," he said, adding he would be back for the final "stronger". Wallberg picked up 79.12 points, but the Swede assured he was holding something back. Calling his first run "solid", Wallberg was pleased with his smooth performance, making a heart sign to the cameras at the bottom of the course. Read Also | Six Russian women's ice hockey players in isolation after Covid positive tests "Plans for the finals is to ski a bit faster and add an extra spin at the bottom ... just to push a bit more," the 21-year-old said. Japan and Sweden each got two skiers into the top 10. Daichi Hara, who won bronze in Pyeongchang, said he felt immense pressure. "The fact that it was my second time and the added title of being a medallist was weighing on me and I felt like I couldn`t have fun until the very beginning," Hara told reporters. "That`s why I tried to smile as much as possible at the top and kept telling myself `have fun, have fun` and I was able to do just that." The top 10 skiers from the first round of qualifying automatically advance to the final, with a second round of qualifiers to be held on Saturday.

Beijing Olympics: Champion Mikael Kingsbury leads moguls qualifiers in Freestyle skiing

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will meet Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai inside the `closed loop` of the Beijing Olympics, he said on Thursday.

The well-being of Peng, a former world number one doubles player, became a matter of concern in November when she alleged on social media that a former Chinese vice premier, Zhang Gaoli, had sexually assaulted her.

The closed loop is a zone all Games participants are restricted to in order to avoid a spread of the coronavirus infection in Beijing. The Games officially open on Friday.

Last month Peng said she had never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her and that the post she made had been misunderstood. Zhang has not commented on the matter.

The IOC has held several video calls with Peng in past weeks and Bach said a planned meeting would go ahead at the Feb. 4-20 Games.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/winter-olympics-belgian-skeleton-racers-tearful-video-in-isolation-permits-her-release-watch-450117">Winter Olympics: Belgian skeleton racer's tearful video in isolation permits her release - WATCH</a>

"We know from her explanations ... that she is living in Beijing, that she can move freely, spending time with family and friends," Bach told a news conference.

"Now we will be able to do the next step in a personal meeting to convince us in person of her well-being and state of mind." 
Bach said if Peng wanted her allegations to be investigated he would support her.

"If she wants to have an inquiry we would also support her in this. But it`s her life, it`s her allegations," Bach said. "We will know more about her physical integrity and mental state when we meet her in person."

The IOC has had several phone calls with the player in recent months but international concerns over her safety and well-being have not been allayed.

The Women`s Tennis Association (WTA) has suspended tournaments in China due to its concerns over Peng`s safety. China has not directly commented on Peng`s initial post but said after the WTA`s move that it "opposes the politicisation of sports".

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will meet Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai inside the `closed loop` of the Beijing Olympics, he said on Thursday.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will meet Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai inside the `closed loop` of the Beijing Olympics, he said on Thursday. The well-being of Peng, a former world number one doubles player, became a matter of concern in November when she alleged on social media that a former Chinese vice premier, Zhang Gaoli, had sexually assaulted her. The closed loop is a zone all Games participants are restricted to in order to avoid a spread of the coronavirus infection in Beijing. The Games officially open on Friday. Last month Peng said she had never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her and that the post she made had been misunderstood. Zhang has not commented on the matter. The IOC has held several video calls with Peng in past weeks and Bach said a planned meeting would go ahead at the Feb. 4-20 Games. Read Also | Winter Olympics: Belgian skeleton racer's tearful video in isolation permits her release - WATCH "We know from her explanations ... that she is living in Beijing, that she can move freely, spending time with family and friends," Bach told a news conference. "Now we will be able to do the next step in a personal meeting to convince us in person of her well-being and state of mind." Bach said if Peng wanted her allegations to be investigated he would support her. "If she wants to have an inquiry we would also support her in this. But it`s her life, it`s her allegations," Bach said. "We will know more about her physical integrity and mental state when we meet her in person." The IOC has had several phone calls with the player in recent months but international concerns over her safety and well-being have not been allayed. The Women`s Tennis Association (WTA) has suspended tournaments in China due to its concerns over Peng`s safety. China has not directly commented on Peng`s initial post but said after the WTA`s move that it "opposes the politicisation of sports".

'Closed loop' meeting between IOC President Thomas Bach and Peng Shuai

Germany`s record Winter Olympics medallist Claudia Pechstein, who was banned for doping in the past, and bobsledder Francesco Friedrich will carry their country`s flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games, the team said on Thursday.

Pechstein, a 49-year-old speedskater who will be competing in her eighth Olympics having won a German Winter Games record of nine medals, including five golds, has had a remarkably resilient Olympic career starting in 1992.

She won medals in her first five Olympics but was banned for two years by the International Skating Union in 2009 over abnormal blood levels, forcing her to miss the Vancouver 2010 Games despite her last-gasp legal efforts to have the ruling overturned.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/beijing-olympics-2022-covid-information-leaks-worry-norwegians-450097">Beijing Olympics 2022: COVID information leaks worry Norwegians</a>

The ISU had said at the time that the values were indicative of doping use. Having never failed a doping test, Pechstein, a police officer, had insisted at the time, providing extensive scientific data, that she had a hereditary blood condition that her father also had.

She battled back, however, competing in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where she narrowly missed out on medals in the 3,000m and 5,000m, and at the Pyeongchang Games four years later.

Friedrich, competing in his third Games, is a double gold medallist in the two- and four-man competition from Pyeongchang. The Beijing Games officially get under way on Friday with the opening ceremony.

Germany`s record Winter Olympics medallist Claudia Pechstein, who was banned for doping in the past, and bobsledder Francesco Friedrich will carry their country`s flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games, the team said on Thursday.

Germany`s record Winter Olympics medallist Claudia Pechstein, who was banned for doping in the past, and bobsledder Francesco Friedrich will carry their country`s flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games, the team said on Thursday. Pechstein, a 49-year-old speedskater who will be competing in her eighth Olympics having won a German Winter Games record of nine medals, including five golds, has had a remarkably resilient Olympic career starting in 1992. She won medals in her first five Olympics but was banned for two years by the International Skating Union in 2009 over abnormal blood levels, forcing her to miss the Vancouver 2010 Games despite her last-gasp legal efforts to have the ruling overturned. Read Also | Beijing Olympics 2022: COVID information leaks worry Norwegians The ISU had said at the time that the values were indicative of doping use. Having never failed a doping test, Pechstein, a police officer, had insisted at the time, providing extensive scientific data, that she had a hereditary blood condition that her father also had. She battled back, however, competing in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where she narrowly missed out on medals in the 3,000m and 5,000m, and at the Pyeongchang Games four years later. Friedrich, competing in his third Games, is a double gold medallist in the two- and four-man competition from Pyeongchang. The Beijing Games officially get under way on Friday with the opening ceremony.

Winter Olympics: German record holder Claudia Pechstein to carry flag

Local organisers need to tighten up the handling of health information after a hotel manager was told before the Norwegian team that two biathletes were possible close contacts of a COVID-19 case, Chef de Mission Tore Oevreboe said on Thursday.

Oevreboe told a news conference the team hotel was informed that Johannes Thingnes Boe and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold had sat near a person who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on their flight to China before he was.

"He (the hotel manager) is a decent guy, but he shouldn`t have had that information before us, it`s completely `Texas`," Oevreboe said, using a Norwegian expression meaning "Wild West" or a free-for-all.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/winter-olympics-curling-competition-britain-china-claim-victories-as-beijing-action-gets-under-way-449925">Winter Olympics, Curling competition: Britain, China claim victories as Beijing action gets under way</a>

"We got it a little later than we should, and that means we do not get the full and complete overview before we start with counter-measures," Oevreboe said.

"We cannot initiate measures based on rumours, which creates uncertainty. It`s not professional, and then we cannot do our job properly. We want answers as soon as possible, so that we can initiate measures. We think (this was) too late."

The Norwegian team suffered a number of positive tests among its cross-country skiers before departure for the Winter Games, where Norway is traditionally a superpower.

As potential close contacts, Thingnes Boe and Tandrevold are still allowed to train but must otherwise remain in their rooms, including during meals.

Local organisers need to tighten up the handling of health information after a hotel manager was told before the Norwegian team that two biathletes were possible close contacts of a COVID-19 case, Chef de Mission Tore Oevreboe said on Thursday.

Local organisers need to tighten up the handling of health information after a hotel manager was told before the Norwegian team that two biathletes were possible close contacts of a COVID-19 case, Chef de Mission Tore Oevreboe said on Thursday. Oevreboe told a news conference the team hotel was informed that Johannes Thingnes Boe and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold had sat near a person who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on their flight to China before he was. "He (the hotel manager) is a decent guy, but he shouldn`t have had that information before us, it`s completely `Texas`," Oevreboe said, using a Norwegian expression meaning "Wild West" or a free-for-all. Read Also | Winter Olympics, Curling competition: Britain, China claim victories as Beijing action gets under way "We got it a little later than we should, and that means we do not get the full and complete overview before we start with counter-measures," Oevreboe said. "We cannot initiate measures based on rumours, which creates uncertainty. It`s not professional, and then we cannot do our job properly. We want answers as soon as possible, so that we can initiate measures. We think (this was) too late." The Norwegian team suffered a number of positive tests among its cross-country skiers before departure for the Winter Games, where Norway is traditionally a superpower. As potential close contacts, Thingnes Boe and Tandrevold are still allowed to train but must otherwise remain in their rooms, including during meals.

Beijing Olympics 2022: COVID information leaks worry Norwegians

Taiwan announced Tuesday a reversal to its weekend decision to forgo the opening and closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics, saying the committee governing the Games was "requiring" attendance at the ceremonies.&nbsp;

The about-turn comes as relations between Beijing and Taipei are at their lowest in decades, with China ramping up military and economic pressure against the self-ruled democratic island.&nbsp;

Days earlier, Taiwan's Sports Administration had said it would not be sending its delegation to either of the ceremonies, citing concerns around "pandemic prevention and flight schedules".&nbsp;

By Tuesday, the island's&nbsp;Olympic&nbsp;committee -- which answers to Taiwan's sports governing body -- said there was a change of plans due to the Games' international governing body "requiring" attendance.&nbsp;

"(We've) received multiple notices by the IOC (International&nbsp;Olympic&nbsp;Committee) recently requiring all delegations joining the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to cooperate and attend the opening and closing ceremonies," it said.&nbsp;

"Based on the&nbsp;Olympic&nbsp;spirit of solidarity as well as long-term good interactions and mutual understanding between the two sides, the Chinese Taipei&nbsp;Olympic&nbsp;Committee... has decided to adjust plans to send representatives" to both ceremonies.&nbsp;

The local committee's use of the name "Chinese Taipei" is based on a 1981 compromise made with the IOC to allow Taiwan to compete on the international stage without presenting itself as a sovereign nation.

Authoritarian China regards democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if needed.

Record numbers of Chinese jets have entered the island's air defence zone in the past four months.

Taiwan has seen a surge in these kinds of threats since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, when China cut off official communication with her government because she regards Taiwan as an already sovereign nation.

The last time Beijing hosted an Olympics in 2008, relations with Taiwan were much warmer and a group of 80 competitors visited the Summer Games.

This year, only four athletes will be competing in the Winter Games.

Unlike several Western nations, Taipei has not joined a US-led diplomatic boycott of the Games over Beijing's human rights record.

But no government representative will be at the ceremonies due to "precedent", Taiwan's Sports Administration said Tuesday in a statement

The authority said it "respects" the decision made by its Olympics committee to attend the ceremonies.&nbsp;

It also urged the IOC "to prevent the interference of any political factors to suppress and belittle (Taiwan's) status".&nbsp;

Taiwan announced Tuesday a reversal to its weekend decision to forgo the opening and closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics, saying the committee governing the Games was "requiring" attendance at the ceremonies.

Taiwan announced Tuesday a reversal to its weekend decision to forgo the opening and closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics, saying the committee governing the Games was "requiring" attendance at the ceremonies. The about-turn comes as relations between Beijing and Taipei are at their lowest in decades, with China ramping up military and economic pressure against the self-ruled democratic island. Days earlier, Taiwan's Sports Administration had said it would not be sending its delegation to either of the ceremonies, citing concerns around "pandemic prevention and flight schedules". By Tuesday, the island's Olympic committee -- which answers to Taiwan's sports governing body -- said there was a change of plans due to the Games' international governing body "requiring" attendance. "(We've) received multiple notices by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) recently requiring all delegations joining the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to cooperate and attend the opening and closing ceremonies," it said. "Based on the Olympic spirit of solidarity as well as long-term good interactions and mutual understanding between the two sides, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee... has decided to adjust plans to send representatives" to both ceremonies. The local committee's use of the name "Chinese Taipei" is based on a 1981 compromise made with the IOC to allow Taiwan to compete on the international stage without presenting itself as a sovereign nation. Authoritarian China regards democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if needed. Record numbers of Chinese jets have entered the island's air defence zone in the past four months. Taiwan has seen a surge in these kinds of threats since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, when China cut off official communication with her government because she regards Taiwan as an already sovereign nation. The last time Beijing hosted an Olympics in 2008, relations with Taiwan were much warmer and a group of 80 competitors visited the Summer Games. This year, only four athletes will be competing in the Winter Games. Unlike several Western nations, Taipei has not joined a US-led diplomatic boycott of the Games over Beijing's human rights record. But no government representative will be at the ceremonies due to "precedent", Taiwan's Sports Administration said Tuesday in a statement The authority said it "respects" the decision made by its Olympics committee to attend the ceremonies. It also urged the IOC "to prevent the interference of any political factors to suppress and belittle (Taiwan's) status".

Taiwan delegation to attend Beijing Olympics ceremonies as 'required'

From Vladimir Putin to Imran Khan: World leaders who will attend Beijing Olympics 2022

Beijing`s COVID-shortened Olympic torch relay began on Wednesday with basketball great Yao Ming and a Chinese soldier wounded in a bloody 2020 border clash with India among the first to carry the symbolic flame on a journey that will last just three days. The route taking the flame to landmarks including the Great Wall and Summer Palace is far more modest than the globe-spanning tour ahead of Beijing`s 2008 Summer Games that was disrupted by protests along the way.

Because of COVID-19, only selected members of the public will witness this week`s relay, as will be the case during the sporting events at the Olympics, which are taking place inside a "closed loop" that seals off athletes and other Olympics personnel from the public. "That is, of course, bad luck but what can you do?", Georgios Iliopoulos, Greece`s ambassador to China and a torch-bearer, said when asked if he was worried that the 2022 Games would be remembered as the "corona Olympics".

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"You cannot stop life and we do the best we can to continue with what we have to deal with. The main thing is we keep together at this and leave it behind us as soon as possible," he told reporters. 
The Olympics will run from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20. The flame, which was flown from Greece in October, will travel to competition zones, including Zhangjiakou in neighbouring Hebei province, before ending its journey with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at Friday`s opening ceremony.

Wednesday`s event began under clear blue skies in Beijing when Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng lit a torch from a cauldron in the shape of traditional ritual vessel known as a zun, then handed it to 80-year-old Luo Zhihuan, who as a speed skater was China`s first winter sports world champion.

Among the torch-bearers was Qi Fabao, a regimental commander in the People`s Liberation Army who was seriously wounded during a 2020 border clash with Indian troops in the Galwan Valley that killed four Chinese soldiers. He took the torch from four-time short track speed skating gold medalist Wang Meng. 
More than 1,000 torch-bearers will participate in the relay. Asked during the sub-freezing morning how he felt as an Olympics torch-bearer, Yao responded: "Pretty cold, because the previous two times were for the Summer Olympics. But it`s warm to hold a flame in the winter."

Beijing`s COVID-shortened Olympic torch relay began on Wednesday with basketball great Yao Ming and a Chinese soldier wounded in a bloody 2020 border clash with India among the first to carry the symbolic flame on a journey that will last just three days.

Beijing`s COVID-shortened Olympic torch relay began on Wednesday with basketball great Yao Ming and a Chinese soldier wounded in a bloody 2020 border clash with India among the first to carry the symbolic flame on a journey that will last just three days. The route taking the flame to landmarks including the Great Wall and Summer Palace is far more modest than the globe-spanning tour ahead of Beijing`s 2008 Summer Games that was disrupted by protests along the way. Because of COVID-19, only selected members of the public will witness this week`s relay, as will be the case during the sporting events at the Olympics, which are taking place inside a "closed loop" that seals off athletes and other Olympics personnel from the public. "That is, of course, bad luck but what can you do?", Georgios Iliopoulos, Greece`s ambassador to China and a torch-bearer, said when asked if he was worried that the 2022 Games would be remembered as the "corona Olympics". ALSO READ | Beijing Olympics: Eleven personnel in hospital with COVID-19 virus, none serious "You cannot stop life and we do the best we can to continue with what we have to deal with. The main thing is we keep together at this and leave it behind us as soon as possible," he told reporters. The Olympics will run from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20. The flame, which was flown from Greece in October, will travel to competition zones, including Zhangjiakou in neighbouring Hebei province, before ending its journey with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at Friday`s opening ceremony. Wednesday`s event began under clear blue skies in Beijing when Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng lit a torch from a cauldron in the shape of traditional ritual vessel known as a zun, then handed it to 80-year-old Luo Zhihuan, who as a speed skater was China`s first winter sports world champion. Among the torch-bearers was Qi Fabao, a regimental commander in the People`s Liberation Army who was seriously wounded during a 2020 border clash with Indian troops in the Galwan Valley that killed four Chinese soldiers. He took the torch from four-time short track speed skating gold medalist Wang Meng. More than 1,000 torch-bearers will participate in the relay. Asked during the sub-freezing morning how he felt as an Olympics torch-bearer, Yao responded: "Pretty cold, because the previous two times were for the Summer Olympics. But it`s warm to hold a flame in the winter."

Winter Olympics: Torch begins COVID-shortened trek past Beijing landmarks

Will the Winter Olympics be a superspreader event? Beijing has reported its highest number of Wuhan virus cases in 18 months. Out of 8,000 people that have come for the games - 211 have tested positive. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Covid-19 breaches Beijing Olympics bubble

Beijing is grappling with a steady surge in Covid cases despite one of the largest Covid bubbles ever seen in the world days before beginning of the winter Olympics. Nearly 34 new Covid cases were detected in Olympics-related personnel.

Covid News: 34 new cases among Beijing Olympic-related personnel

During the past four days China has detected some 119 cases of COVID-19 among athletes and personnel linked to the Beijing Winter Olympics, with authorities imposing a "closed loop" bubble to keep participants, staff and media separated from the public.

The tally from the weekend showed 37 new cases on Sunday, and 34 on Saturday, with most testing positive after arrival at the airport, Games organisers said.

On Monday, Russian biathlete Valeria Vasnetsova said her own Olympic ambitions were over after testing positive twice following her arrival in Beijing, one of three Russian positive tests announced on Monday.

"Unfortunately my Olympic dream will remain just a dream," Vasnetsova wrote on social media. "Maybe one day I will find the strength to rise again but it will be a completely different story."

Eight athletes or team officials were among 28 people who had tested positive on arrival at the airport on Sunday. 
International Olympic Committee member Emma Terho, who heads the IOC`s athletes commission, also tested positive and said she has been in isolation since the weekend.

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"Even though this is not the start I envisaged, I was happy to see the protocols that Beijing 2022 has put in place are working well," Terho, a retired Finnish ice hockey player, said on social media.

Some 3,000 athletes, along with coaches, officials, referees, federation delegates and media are expected for the Games, due to run from Feb. 4-20. 
The "closed loop" will allow them to move between accommodation and Olympic venues on official transport but they are not allowed out to move freely in public.

In contrast to many countries seeking to live with COVID-19, China has isolated itself with a zero-tolerance policy, cancelling nearly all international flights.

An opinion piece in the People’s Daily -- the ruling Communist Party`s official newspaper -- praised the work done to prepare for the Games and battle the spread of the virus.

"The epidemic and control measures of the Beijing Winter Olympics are the epitome of China’s successful experience in fighting the epidemic, and are also a focused demonstration of China’s spirit and China’s strength."

Olympic athletes and others must fly directly into the city on charter flights and are tested daily.

POSITIVE TESTS

Athletes, however, have also been testing positive prior to their arrival in Beijing, with the world`s leading women`s ski jumper, Marita Kramer of Austria, rescheduling her departure in an effort to get healthy in time for her competition.

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Kramer, who leads the women`s overall World Cup standings, tested positive in Germany, the last competition ahead of the Games. 
"Officials are at the moment working on a time plan in order to make it possible for the World Cup leader to take part in the Olympic Games in Beijing," the Austrian ski federation said.

Russian skeleton racers, Olympic silver medallist Nikita Tregubov and Vladislav Semyonov, will miss the Games after testing positive prior to their departure, the country`s bobsleigh federation said.

There was, however, good news for the Australian curling team after curler Tahli Gill returned two negative tests following an initial positive in the Chinese capital on Sunday.

Gill and teammate Dean Hewitt had been in isolation for two days after she tested positive at Beijing airport. 
"We have treated this time as a rest day and a time to really focus on our Olympic goals," the pair said in a statement.

During the past four days China has detected some 119 cases of COVID-19 among athletes and personnel linked to the Beijing Winter Olympics, with authorities imposing a "closed loop" bubble to keep participants, staff and media separated from the public.

During the past four days China has detected some 119 cases of COVID-19 among athletes and personnel linked to the Beijing Winter Olympics, with authorities imposing a "closed loop" bubble to keep participants, staff and media separated from the public. The tally from the weekend showed 37 new cases on Sunday, and 34 on Saturday, with most testing positive after arrival at the airport, Games organisers said. On Monday, Russian biathlete Valeria Vasnetsova said her own Olympic ambitions were over after testing positive twice following her arrival in Beijing, one of three Russian positive tests announced on Monday. "Unfortunately my Olympic dream will remain just a dream," Vasnetsova wrote on social media. "Maybe one day I will find the strength to rise again but it will be a completely different story." Eight athletes or team officials were among 28 people who had tested positive on arrival at the airport on Sunday. International Olympic Committee member Emma Terho, who heads the IOC`s athletes commission, also tested positive and said she has been in isolation since the weekend. Read Also | Beijing Olympics: China reports 34 new COVID-19 cases among Games-related personnel "Even though this is not the start I envisaged, I was happy to see the protocols that Beijing 2022 has put in place are working well," Terho, a retired Finnish ice hockey player, said on social media. Some 3,000 athletes, along with coaches, officials, referees, federation delegates and media are expected for the Games, due to run from Feb. 4-20. The "closed loop" will allow them to move between accommodation and Olympic venues on official transport but they are not allowed out to move freely in public. In contrast to many countries seeking to live with COVID-19, China has isolated itself with a zero-tolerance policy, cancelling nearly all international flights. An opinion piece in the People’s Daily -- the ruling Communist Party`s official newspaper -- praised the work done to prepare for the Games and battle the spread of the virus. "The epidemic and control measures of the Beijing Winter Olympics are the epitome of China’s successful experience in fighting the epidemic, and are also a focused demonstration of China’s spirit and China’s strength." Olympic athletes and others must fly directly into the city on charter flights and are tested daily. POSITIVE TESTS Athletes, however, have also been testing positive prior to their arrival in Beijing, with the world`s leading women`s ski jumper, Marita Kramer of Austria, rescheduling her departure in an effort to get healthy in time for her competition. Read Also | Beijing Olympics: Sponsors on 'tightrope' ahead of Winter Games amid US-China tensions Kramer, who leads the women`s overall World Cup standings, tested positive in Germany, the last competition ahead of the Games. "Officials are at the moment working on a time plan in order to make it possible for the World Cup leader to take part in the Olympic Games in Beijing," the Austrian ski federation said. Russian skeleton racers, Olympic silver medallist Nikita Tregubov and Vladislav Semyonov, will miss the Games after testing positive prior to their departure, the country`s bobsleigh federation said. There was, however, good news for the Australian curling team after curler Tahli Gill returned two negative tests following an initial positive in the Chinese capital on Sunday. Gill and teammate Dean Hewitt had been in isolation for two days after she tested positive at Beijing airport. "We have treated this time as a rest day and a time to really focus on our Olympic goals," the pair said in a statement.

Winter Olympics 2022: COVID-19 cases rise among Olympic athletes, personnel arrive in Beijing

Police had warned Xie Yang, a human rights lawyer, not to go to Shanghai to visit the mother of a dissident. He went to the airport anyway.

His phone’s health code app — a digital pass indicating possible exposure to the coronavirus — was green, which meant he could travel. His home city, Changsha, had no COVID-19 cases, and he had not left in weeks.

Then his app turned red, flagging him as high risk. Airport security tried to put him in quarantine, but he resisted. Xie accused authorities of meddling with his health code to bar him from traveling.

“The Chinese Communist Party has found the best model for controlling people,” he said in December. This month, police detained Xie, a government critic, accusing him of inciting subversion and provoking trouble.

The pandemic has given Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, a powerful case for deepening the Communist Party’s reach into the lives of 1.4 billion citizens, filling out his vision of the country as a model of secure order, in contrast to the “chaos of the West.” In the two years since officials isolated the city of Wuhan in the first lockdown of the pandemic, the Chinese government has honed its powers to track and corral people, backed by upgraded technology, armies of neighborhood workers and broad public support.

Emboldened by their successes in stamping out COVID-19, Chinese officials are turning their sharpened surveillance against other risks, including crime, pollution and “hostile” political forces. This amounts to a potent techno-authoritarian tool for Xi as he intensifies his campaigns against corruption and dissent.

The foundation of the controls is the health code. Local authorities, working with tech companies, generate a user’s profile based on location, travel history, test results and other health data. The code’s color — green, yellow or red — determines whether the holder is allowed into buildings or public spaces. Its use is enforced by legions of local officials with the power to quarantine residents or restrict their movements.

These controls are key to China’s goal of stamping out the virus entirely within its borders — a strategy on which the party has staked its credibility despite the emergence of highly contagious variants. After China’s initial missteps in letting the coronavirus spread, its “zero COVID” approach has helped keep infections low, while the death toll continues to grow in the United States and elsewhere. But Chinese officials have at times been severe, isolating young children from their parents or jailing people deemed to have broken containment rules.

City officials did not respond to questions about assertions by Xie. While it is hard to know what goes on in individual cases, the government itself has signaled it wants to use these technologies in other ways.

Officials have used pandemic health monitoring systems to flush out fugitives. Some fugitives have been tracked down by their health codes. Others who avoided the apps have found life so difficult that they have surrendered.

For all of its outward sophistication, though, China’s surveillance system remains labor-intensive. And while the public has generally supported Beijing’s intrusions during the pandemic, privacy concerns are growing.

“China’s pandemic controls have really produced great results, because they can monitor down to every individual,” said Mei Haoyu, 24, an employee at a dental hospital in Hangzhou, a city in eastern China, who worked as a volunteer early in the pandemic.

“But if after the pandemic ends these means are still there for the government,” he added, “that’s a big risk for ordinary people.”

‘A Vicious Cycle Arises’&nbsp;

A COVID-19 cluster that rippled across Zhejiang province in east China late last year began with a funeral. When one attendee, a health worker, tested positive in a routine test, 100 tracers sprang into action.

Within hours, officials alerted authorities in Hangzhou, 45 miles away, that a potential carrier of the coronavirus was at large there: a man who had driven to the funeral days earlier. Government workers found and tested him — also positive.

Using digital health code records, teams of tracers plotted out a network of people to test based on where the man had been: a restaurant, a mahjong parlor, card-playing rooms. Within a couple of weeks, they stopped the chain of infections in Hangzhou — in all, 29 people there were found to be infected.

China’s capacity to trace such outbreaks has relied heavily on the health code. Residents sign up for the system by submitting their personal information in one of a range of apps. The health code is essentially required, because without it, people cannot enter buildings, restaurants or even parks. Before the pandemic, China already had a vast ability to track people using location data from cellphones; now, that monitoring is far more expansive.

In recent months, authorities in various cities have expanded their definition of close contact to include people whose cellphone signals were recorded within as much as half a mile of an infected person.

The party’s experiment in using data to control the flow of people has helped keep COVID-19 at bay. Now these same tools potentially give officials greater power to manage other challenges.

Xi has praised Hangzhou’s “City Brain” center — which pulls together data on traffic, economic activity, hospital use and public complaints — as a model for how China can use technology to address social problems.

Since 2020, Hangzhou has also used video cameras on streets to check whether residents are wearing masks. One district monitored home power consumption to check whether residents were sticking to quarantine orders. The central city of Luoyang installed sensors on the doors of residents quarantining at home, in order to notify officials if they were opened.

With so much invested, financially and politically, in technological solutions, failures can have big repercussions.

During the recent lockdown in Xi’an, a city of 13 million in northwest China, the health code system crashed twice in two weeks, disrupting the lives of residents who had to update their apps each day with proof that they had taken COVID-19 tests.

By focusing on technology and surveillance, Chinese officials may be neglecting other ways of protecting lives, such as expanding participation in public health programs, wrote Chen Yun, a scholar at Fudan University in Shanghai, in a recent assessment of China’s response to COVID-19.

The risk, she wrote, is that “a vicious cycle arises: People become increasingly marginalized, while technology and power increasingly penetrate everywhere.”

‘On Call at All Times’&nbsp;

For more than a decade, the Communist Party has been shoring up its armies of grassroots officials who carry out door-to-door surveillance. The party’s new digital apparatus has supercharged this older form of control.

China has mobilized 4.5 million so-called grid workers to fight the outbreak, according to state media — roughly 1 in every 250 adults. Under the grid management system, cities, villages and towns are divided into sections, sometimes of just a few blocks, which are then assigned to individual workers.

During normal times, their duties included pulling weeds, mediating disputes and keeping an eye on potential troublemakers.

Amid the pandemic, those duties mushroomed.

Workers were given the task of guarding residential complexes and recording the identities of all who entered. They called residents to make sure they had been tested and vaccinated, and helped those in lockdown take out their trash.

They also were given powerful new tools.

The central government has directed police, as well as internet and telephone companies, to share information about residents’ travel history with community workers so that the workers can decide whether residents are considered high-risk.

In a county in southwestern Sichuan province, the ranks of grid workers tripled to more than 300 over the course of the pandemic, said Pan Xiyu, 26, one of the new hires. Pan, who is responsible for about 2,000 residents, says she spends much of her time distributing leaflets and setting up loudspeakers to explain new measures and encourage vaccination.

The work can be exhausting. “I have to be on call at all times,” she said.

And the pressure to stifle outbreaks can make officials overzealous, prioritizing adherence to the rules no matter the cost.

During the lockdown of Xi’an, hospital workers refused medical care to a woman who was eight months pregnant because her COVID-19 test result had expired hours earlier. She lost the baby, an episode that inspired widespread public fury. But some blamed the heavy burden placed upon low-level workers to stamp out infections.

“In their view, it’s always preferable to go too far than be too soft-handed, but that’s the pressure created by the environment nowadays,” Li Naitang, a retired worker in Xi’an, said of local officials.

Still, for defenders of China’s stringent measures, the results are undeniable. The country has recorded only 3.3 coronavirus deaths per 1 million residents, compared with about 2,600 per 1 million in the U.S. In mid-January, Xi’an officials announced zero new infections; this past week, the lockdown was lifted entirely.

‘You’ll Never Be Lost’

The government’s success in limiting infections means its strategy has earned something that has proved elusive in many other countries: widespread support.

Pan said her job was easier now than at the start of the pandemic. Then, residents often argued when told to scan their health codes or wear masks. Now, she said, people have come to accept the health measures.

“Everybody takes them more and more seriously and is very cooperative,” she said.

Indeed, many Chinese fear that loosening controls could leave room for a resurgence of COVID-19, said Shen Maohua, a blogger in Shanghai who has written about the pandemic and privacy concerns under his pen name, Wei Zhou.

“For many people, I think, it’s actually a kind of mental trade-off,” he said. “They’re giving up some rights in return for absolute security.”

The question is how long people will continue to find that exchange worthwhile. Already, social media users have complained about the apparent arbitrariness with which they can find themselves blocked from traveling because of software glitches or policies that vary by city.

Even officials have acknowledged the problems. A state-run news outlet this month published an analysis of each province’s criteria for a health code to turn from green to yellow. It concluded that, for most provinces, the answer was unclear.

“You never know if your planned itinerary will be canceled, or if your travel plans can be realized,” the article said.

Some government critics warn that the costs will go far beyond inconvenience.

Wang Yu, a well-known human rights lawyer, says she believes authorities have weaponized the health code to try to stop her from working. In November, as she was returning to Beijing after a work trip, she tried to log her travel on her health code app, as required. But when she selected Jiangsu province, the drop-down menu listed only one city, Changzhou, where she had not been and which had just recorded several infections. If she chose that, she would most likely be refused entry to Beijing.

In the past, security officers had to physically follow her to interfere with her work. Now, she worries, they can restrict her movements from afar.

“Wherever you go, you’ll never be lost,” said Wang, who stayed with relatives in Tianjin until her app abruptly returned to normal a month later.

Less high-profile critics are vulnerable, too. Several local governments have pledged to keep a close eye on petitioners — people who travel to Beijing or other cities to lodge complaints about officials — because of their supposed potential to violate travel restrictions.

The health code “can also easily be used as a dirty trick for stability maintenance,” said Lin Yingqiang, a longtime petitioner from Fuzhou, in southeastern China. He said that he was taken off a train by police before a party leaders’ meeting in November. His health code app turned yellow, requiring that he return to Fuzhou for quarantine, although he had not been anywhere near a confirmed case.

Officials have openly promoted using virus control measures in ways unlinked to the pandemic. In the Guangxi region of southern China, a judge noticed that the grid workers’ accounting of local residents was “more thorough than the census.” That gave him an idea.

“Why not use this opportunity to have epidemic grid workers find people we couldn’t find before, or send summonses to places that were hard to reach before?” he said, according to a local news report. Eighteen summonses were successfully delivered as a result.

Local governments across China have sought to assure people that their health code data will not be abused. The central government has also issued regulations promising data privacy. But many Chinese people assume that authorities can acquire whatever information they want, no matter the rules.

Zan Aizong, a former journalist in Hangzhou, says the expansion of surveillance could make it even easier for authorities to break up dissenters’ activities. He has refused to use the health code, but it means moving around is difficult, and he finds it hard to explain his reasoning to workers at checkpoints.

“I can’t tell them the truth — that I’m resisting the health code over surveillance,” he said, “because if I mentioned resistance, they’d think that was ridiculous.”

Police had warned Xie Yang, a human rights lawyer, not to go to Shanghai to visit the mother of a dissident. He went to the airport anyway. His phone’s health code app — a digital pass indicating possible exposure to the coronavirus — was green, which meant he could travel.

Police had warned Xie Yang, a human rights lawyer, not to go to Shanghai to visit the mother of a dissident. He went to the airport anyway. His phone’s health code app — a digital pass indicating possible exposure to the coronavirus — was green, which meant he could travel. His home city, Changsha, had no COVID-19 cases, and he had not left in weeks. Then his app turned red, flagging him as high risk. Airport security tried to put him in quarantine, but he resisted. Xie accused authorities of meddling with his health code to bar him from traveling. “The Chinese Communist Party has found the best model for controlling people,” he said in December. This month, police detained Xie, a government critic, accusing him of inciting subversion and provoking trouble. The pandemic has given Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, a powerful case for deepening the Communist Party’s reach into the lives of 1.4 billion citizens, filling out his vision of the country as a model of secure order, in contrast to the “chaos of the West.” In the two years since officials isolated the city of Wuhan in the first lockdown of the pandemic, the Chinese government has honed its powers to track and corral people, backed by upgraded technology, armies of neighborhood workers and broad public support. Emboldened by their successes in stamping out COVID-19, Chinese officials are turning their sharpened surveillance against other risks, including crime, pollution and “hostile” political forces. This amounts to a potent techno-authoritarian tool for Xi as he intensifies his campaigns against corruption and dissent. The foundation of the controls is the health code. Local authorities, working with tech companies, generate a user’s profile based on location, travel history, test results and other health data. The code’s color — green, yellow or red — determines whether the holder is allowed into buildings or public spaces. Its use is enforced by legions of local officials with the power to quarantine residents or restrict their movements. These controls are key to China’s goal of stamping out the virus entirely within its borders — a strategy on which the party has staked its credibility despite the emergence of highly contagious variants. After China’s initial missteps in letting the coronavirus spread, its “zero COVID” approach has helped keep infections low, while the death toll continues to grow in the United States and elsewhere. But Chinese officials have at times been severe, isolating young children from their parents or jailing people deemed to have broken containment rules. City officials did not respond to questions about assertions by Xie. While it is hard to know what goes on in individual cases, the government itself has signaled it wants to use these technologies in other ways. Officials have used pandemic health monitoring systems to flush out fugitives. Some fugitives have been tracked down by their health codes. Others who avoided the apps have found life so difficult that they have surrendered. For all of its outward sophistication, though, China’s surveillance system remains labor-intensive. And while the public has generally supported Beijing’s intrusions during the pandemic, privacy concerns are growing. “China’s pandemic controls have really produced great results, because they can monitor down to every individual,” said Mei Haoyu, 24, an employee at a dental hospital in Hangzhou, a city in eastern China, who worked as a volunteer early in the pandemic. “But if after the pandemic ends these means are still there for the government,” he added, “that’s a big risk for ordinary people.” ‘A Vicious Cycle Arises’ A COVID-19 cluster that rippled across Zhejiang province in east China late last year began with a funeral. When one attendee, a health worker, tested positive in a routine test, 100 tracers sprang into action. Within hours, officials alerted authorities in Hangzhou, 45 miles away, that a potential carrier of the coronavirus was at large there: a man who had driven to the funeral days earlier. Government workers found and tested him — also positive. Using digital health code records, teams of tracers plotted out a network of people to test based on where the man had been: a restaurant, a mahjong parlor, card-playing rooms. Within a couple of weeks, they stopped the chain of infections in Hangzhou — in all, 29 people there were found to be infected. China’s capacity to trace such outbreaks has relied heavily on the health code. Residents sign up for the system by submitting their personal information in one of a range of apps. The health code is essentially required, because without it, people cannot enter buildings, restaurants or even parks. Before the pandemic, China already had a vast ability to track people using location data from cellphones; now, that monitoring is far more expansive. In recent months, authorities in various cities have expanded their definition of close contact to include people whose cellphone signals were recorded within as much as half a mile of an infected person. The party’s experiment in using data to control the flow of people has helped keep COVID-19 at bay. Now these same tools potentially give officials greater power to manage other challenges. Xi has praised Hangzhou’s “City Brain” center — which pulls together data on traffic, economic activity, hospital use and public complaints — as a model for how China can use technology to address social problems. Since 2020, Hangzhou has also used video cameras on streets to check whether residents are wearing masks. One district monitored home power consumption to check whether residents were sticking to quarantine orders. The central city of Luoyang installed sensors on the doors of residents quarantining at home, in order to notify officials if they were opened. With so much invested, financially and politically, in technological solutions, failures can have big repercussions. During the recent lockdown in Xi’an, a city of 13 million in northwest China, the health code system crashed twice in two weeks, disrupting the lives of residents who had to update their apps each day with proof that they had taken COVID-19 tests. By focusing on technology and surveillance, Chinese officials may be neglecting other ways of protecting lives, such as expanding participation in public health programs, wrote Chen Yun, a scholar at Fudan University in Shanghai, in a recent assessment of China’s response to COVID-19. The risk, she wrote, is that “a vicious cycle arises: People become increasingly marginalized, while technology and power increasingly penetrate everywhere.” ‘On Call at All Times’ For more than a decade, the Communist Party has been shoring up its armies of grassroots officials who carry out door-to-door surveillance. The party’s new digital apparatus has supercharged this older form of control. China has mobilized 4.5 million so-called grid workers to fight the outbreak, according to state media — roughly 1 in every 250 adults. Under the grid management system, cities, villages and towns are divided into sections, sometimes of just a few blocks, which are then assigned to individual workers. During normal times, their duties included pulling weeds, mediating disputes and keeping an eye on potential troublemakers. Amid the pandemic, those duties mushroomed. Workers were given the task of guarding residential complexes and recording the identities of all who entered. They called residents to make sure they had been tested and vaccinated, and helped those in lockdown take out their trash. They also were given powerful new tools. The central government has directed police, as well as internet and telephone companies, to share information about residents’ travel history with community workers so that the workers can decide whether residents are considered high-risk. In a county in southwestern Sichuan province, the ranks of grid workers tripled to more than 300 over the course of the pandemic, said Pan Xiyu, 26, one of the new hires. Pan, who is responsible for about 2,000 residents, says she spends much of her time distributing leaflets and setting up loudspeakers to explain new measures and encourage vaccination. The work can be exhausting. “I have to be on call at all times,” she said. And the pressure to stifle outbreaks can make officials overzealous, prioritizing adherence to the rules no matter the cost. During the lockdown of Xi’an, hospital workers refused medical care to a woman who was eight months pregnant because her COVID-19 test result had expired hours earlier. She lost the baby, an episode that inspired widespread public fury. But some blamed the heavy burden placed upon low-level workers to stamp out infections. “In their view, it’s always preferable to go too far than be too soft-handed, but that’s the pressure created by the environment nowadays,” Li Naitang, a retired worker in Xi’an, said of local officials. Still, for defenders of China’s stringent measures, the results are undeniable. The country has recorded only 3.3 coronavirus deaths per 1 million residents, compared with about 2,600 per 1 million in the U.S. In mid-January, Xi’an officials announced zero new infections; this past week, the lockdown was lifted entirely. ‘You’ll Never Be Lost’ The government’s success in limiting infections means its strategy has earned something that has proved elusive in many other countries: widespread support. Pan said her job was easier now than at the start of the pandemic. Then, residents often argued when told to scan their health codes or wear masks. Now, she said, people have come to accept the health measures. “Everybody takes them more and more seriously and is very cooperative,” she said. Indeed, many Chinese fear that loosening controls could leave room for a resurgence of COVID-19, said Shen Maohua, a blogger in Shanghai who has written about the pandemic and privacy concerns under his pen name, Wei Zhou. “For many people, I think, it’s actually a kind of mental trade-off,” he said. “They’re giving up some rights in return for absolute security.” The question is how long people will continue to find that exchange worthwhile. Already, social media users have complained about the apparent arbitrariness with which they can find themselves blocked from traveling because of software glitches or policies that vary by city. Even officials have acknowledged the problems. A state-run news outlet this month published an analysis of each province’s criteria for a health code to turn from green to yellow. It concluded that, for most provinces, the answer was unclear. “You never know if your planned itinerary will be canceled, or if your travel plans can be realized,” the article said. Some government critics warn that the costs will go far beyond inconvenience. Wang Yu, a well-known human rights lawyer, says she believes authorities have weaponized the health code to try to stop her from working. In November, as she was returning to Beijing after a work trip, she tried to log her travel on her health code app, as required. But when she selected Jiangsu province, the drop-down menu listed only one city, Changzhou, where she had not been and which had just recorded several infections. If she chose that, she would most likely be refused entry to Beijing. In the past, security officers had to physically follow her to interfere with her work. Now, she worries, they can restrict her movements from afar. “Wherever you go, you’ll never be lost,” said Wang, who stayed with relatives in Tianjin until her app abruptly returned to normal a month later. Less high-profile critics are vulnerable, too. Several local governments have pledged to keep a close eye on petitioners — people who travel to Beijing or other cities to lodge complaints about officials — because of their supposed potential to violate travel restrictions. The health code “can also easily be used as a dirty trick for stability maintenance,” said Lin Yingqiang, a longtime petitioner from Fuzhou, in southeastern China. He said that he was taken off a train by police before a party leaders’ meeting in November. His health code app turned yellow, requiring that he return to Fuzhou for quarantine, although he had not been anywhere near a confirmed case. Officials have openly promoted using virus control measures in ways unlinked to the pandemic. In the Guangxi region of southern China, a judge noticed that the grid workers’ accounting of local residents was “more thorough than the census.” That gave him an idea. “Why not use this opportunity to have epidemic grid workers find people we couldn’t find before, or send summonses to places that were hard to reach before?” he said, according to a local news report. Eighteen summonses were successfully delivered as a result. Local governments across China have sought to assure people that their health code data will not be abused. The central government has also issued regulations promising data privacy. But many Chinese people assume that authorities can acquire whatever information they want, no matter the rules. Zan Aizong, a former journalist in Hangzhou, says the expansion of surveillance could make it even easier for authorities to break up dissenters’ activities. He has refused to use the health code, but it means moving around is difficult, and he finds it hard to explain his reasoning to workers at checkpoints. “I can’t tell them the truth — that I’m resisting the health code over surveillance,” he said, “because if I mentioned resistance, they’d think that was ridiculous.”

Living by the code: In China, COVID-era controls may outlast the virus

Thirty-four new COVID-19 infections were detected among Olympics-related personnel, the Beijing 2022 Winter Games organising committee said on Sunday, including Poland`s short track medal hopeful Natalia Maliszewska.

Of those, 13 were athletes or team officials who tested positive after arriving at the airport on Saturday. Of the total infections, 23 were among new airport arrivals, while 11 were people already in the "closed loop" bubble that separates event personnel from the public in an effort to curb the spread of infections.

The loop allows Games participants to move freely between their accommodations and Olympic venues on official transport, but they are not allowed to move freely in the city. All Games stakeholders, including media and staff, are also tested daily.

Maliszewska is the eighth Polish athlete to have tested positive and has gone into isolation, the Polish Olympic Committee said on Sunday. She joins infected fellow speedskaters Natalia Czerwonka, Magdalena Czyszczon and Marek Kania in isolation.

Read Also | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beijing-olympics-sponsors-on-tightrope-ahead-of-winter-games-amid-us-china-tensions-448776">Beijing Olympics: Sponsors on 'tightrope' ahead of Winter Games amid US-China tensions</a>

With the 500m heats set to start on Saturday, Maliszewska is in a race against time to compete. Athletes who test positive and show no symptoms are to be discharged from isolation only if they provide two consecutive negative tests 24 hours apart.

Australia announced a positive COVID-19 test on Sunday among its team members but did not say whether it was an athlete or coaching staff. 
Team chief Geoff Lipshut said the positive test was concerning but was so far only one case and the infected person had no close contact with other team members, which would have forced others into quarantine.

"There is no angst or stress about this unexpected situation and everyone is prepared," Lipshut told reporters. 
Beijing Games organisers have warned of more cases in coming days as the Chinese capital enforces stringent measures, restricting movement and contact of any Games participant with the local population.

Unlike many countries seeking to live with COVID-19, China has isolated itself with a zero-tolerance policy, cancelling nearly all international flights. Olympic athletes and others must fly directly into the city on charter flights.

Thirty-four new COVID-19 infections were detected among Olympics-related personnel, the Beijing 2022 Winter Games organising committee said on Sunday, including Poland`s short track medal hopeful Natalia Maliszewska.

Thirty-four new COVID-19 infections were detected among Olympics-related personnel, the Beijing 2022 Winter Games organising committee said on Sunday, including Poland`s short track medal hopeful Natalia Maliszewska. Of those, 13 were athletes or team officials who tested positive after arriving at the airport on Saturday. Of the total infections, 23 were among new airport arrivals, while 11 were people already in the "closed loop" bubble that separates event personnel from the public in an effort to curb the spread of infections. The loop allows Games participants to move freely between their accommodations and Olympic venues on official transport, but they are not allowed to move freely in the city. All Games stakeholders, including media and staff, are also tested daily. Maliszewska is the eighth Polish athlete to have tested positive and has gone into isolation, the Polish Olympic Committee said on Sunday. She joins infected fellow speedskaters Natalia Czerwonka, Magdalena Czyszczon and Marek Kania in isolation. Read Also | Beijing Olympics: Sponsors on 'tightrope' ahead of Winter Games amid US-China tensions With the 500m heats set to start on Saturday, Maliszewska is in a race against time to compete. Athletes who test positive and show no symptoms are to be discharged from isolation only if they provide two consecutive negative tests 24 hours apart. Australia announced a positive COVID-19 test on Sunday among its team members but did not say whether it was an athlete or coaching staff. Team chief Geoff Lipshut said the positive test was concerning but was so far only one case and the infected person had no close contact with other team members, which would have forced others into quarantine. "There is no angst or stress about this unexpected situation and everyone is prepared," Lipshut told reporters. Beijing Games organisers have warned of more cases in coming days as the Chinese capital enforces stringent measures, restricting movement and contact of any Games participant with the local population. Unlike many countries seeking to live with COVID-19, China has isolated itself with a zero-tolerance policy, cancelling nearly all international flights. Olympic athletes and others must fly directly into the city on charter flights.

Beijing Olympics: China reports 34 new COVID-19 cases among Games-related personnel

Ahead of Beijing Winter Games, sponsors of the Olympics are walking a tightrope as worsening geopolitical tensions force them to consider downplaying their involvement without upsetting China.

Political fervour in the United States reached a high last month as the White House called for a diplomatic boycott of the Games, a statement against human rights abuses that Washington has accused Beijing of perpetuating in the country`s western Xinjiang region.

Mark DiMassimo, the founder and creative chief of DiGo, an advertising agency in New York, said sponsors appear to be downplaying their involvement, at least in the lead-up to the Games.

"You don`t see the typical promotion of their Olympics advertising in advance. You`d be typically seeing it at this time, and we`re not," CNN quoting him reported, adding "I think they`re trying not to make themselves the story."

The United States call for a diplomatic boycott of the Games in past months over the human rights abuses in China western Xinjiang region, have added to pressure on multinational corporations which in recent months have faced calls to cut ties with the event because of Xinjiang, CNN reported.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beijing-olympics-organising-committee-reports-12-covid-19-cases-among-arrivals-448403">Beijing Olympics organising committee reports 12 COVID-19 cases among arrivals</a>

According to CNN, critics question the value of sponsoring an event that won`t be selling tickets to the public due to COVID-19 pandemic curbs.

Tension arises when the US joined in its diplomatic boycott by the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Denmark, which each announced they would not be sending any government delegations to the events.

However, China, for its part has called on the international community to "depoliticize" sports and warned that countries could "pay the price for their mistaken acts.

"According to DiMassimo, the Chinese government has also repeatedly denied all allegations of human rights abuses. But for businesses, the diplomatic firestorm set off a gigantic scramble. There were "lots of late-night Zoom calls and meetings as advertisers tried to figure out what to do," he said, referring to the aftermath of the US boycott.

Meanwhile, experts say that the Olympics` top partners collectively pay billions of dollars to sponsor the Games, including fees paid to organizers and additional marketing costs.But analysts suspect their advertising push this year might be a lot more muted than that number would merit.

Ahead of Beijing Winter Games, sponsors of the Olympics are walking a tightrope as worsening geopolitical tensions force them to consider downplaying their involvement without upsetting China.

Ahead of Beijing Winter Games, sponsors of the Olympics are walking a tightrope as worsening geopolitical tensions force them to consider downplaying their involvement without upsetting China. Political fervour in the United States reached a high last month as the White House called for a diplomatic boycott of the Games, a statement against human rights abuses that Washington has accused Beijing of perpetuating in the country`s western Xinjiang region. Mark DiMassimo, the founder and creative chief of DiGo, an advertising agency in New York, said sponsors appear to be downplaying their involvement, at least in the lead-up to the Games. "You don`t see the typical promotion of their Olympics advertising in advance. You`d be typically seeing it at this time, and we`re not," CNN quoting him reported, adding "I think they`re trying not to make themselves the story." The United States call for a diplomatic boycott of the Games in past months over the human rights abuses in China western Xinjiang region, have added to pressure on multinational corporations which in recent months have faced calls to cut ties with the event because of Xinjiang, CNN reported. Read Also | Beijing Olympics organising committee reports 12 COVID-19 cases among arrivals According to CNN, critics question the value of sponsoring an event that won`t be selling tickets to the public due to COVID-19 pandemic curbs. Tension arises when the US joined in its diplomatic boycott by the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Denmark, which each announced they would not be sending any government delegations to the events. However, China, for its part has called on the international community to "depoliticize" sports and warned that countries could "pay the price for their mistaken acts. "According to DiMassimo, the Chinese government has also repeatedly denied all allegations of human rights abuses. But for businesses, the diplomatic firestorm set off a gigantic scramble. There were "lots of late-night Zoom calls and meetings as advertisers tried to figure out what to do," he said, referring to the aftermath of the US boycott. Meanwhile, experts say that the Olympics` top partners collectively pay billions of dollars to sponsor the Games, including fees paid to organizers and additional marketing costs.But analysts suspect their advertising push this year might be a lot more muted than that number would merit.

Beijing Olympics: Sponsors on 'tightrope' ahead of Winter Games amid US-China tensions

As China is set to host Winter Olympics on Friday next week, the organizing committee for the games informed that 12 cases of COVID-19 have been detected within the past 24 hours among those arriving for the event.

Sputnik News Agency reported that the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games on Friday said that a total of 1,682 people arrived in China for the Games on Thursday including 1,042 athletes and team officials and 640 other stakeholders.

After PCR-testing at the airport, infection was confirmed in 10 of them including two athletes and team members. Two more positive cases were detected among stakeholders who had arrived in Beijing beforehand and were retested, the committee said, according to Sputnik.

On Thursday, the committee said about 15 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in stakeholders who arrived at the Games, but no athlete tested positive. The 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing will be declared open on February 4 and will run until February 20.

As China is set to host Winter Olympics on Friday next week, the organizing committee for the games informed that 12 cases of COVID-19 have been detected within the past 24 hours among those arriving for the event.

As China is set to host Winter Olympics on Friday next week, the organizing committee for the games informed that 12 cases of COVID-19 have been detected within the past 24 hours among those arriving for the event. Sputnik News Agency reported that the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games on Friday said that a total of 1,682 people arrived in China for the Games on Thursday including 1,042 athletes and team officials and 640 other stakeholders. After PCR-testing at the airport, infection was confirmed in 10 of them including two athletes and team members. Two more positive cases were detected among stakeholders who had arrived in Beijing beforehand and were retested, the committee said, according to Sputnik. On Thursday, the committee said about 15 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in stakeholders who arrived at the Games, but no athlete tested positive. The 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing will be declared open on February 4 and will run until February 20.

Beijing Olympics organising committee reports 12 COVID-19 cases among arrivals

The International Olympic Committee talked with Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai last week and will meet her in Beijing during next month`s Winter Olympics, it said on Wednesday.

Peng`s situation became a matter of concern in November when the former women`s number one doubles player alleged that a former Chinese vice premier, Zhang Gaoli, had sexually assaulted her in the past. After that social media post, she was absent from public view for nearly three weeks.

Last month Peng said she had never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her, and that the post she made had been misunderstood. Zhang has not commented on the matter.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/china-warns-about-pollution-ahead-of-beijing-2022-covid-curbs-eased-447171">China warns about pollution ahead of Beijing 2022; COVID curbs eased</a>

"Since the first call that the IOC held with Peng Shuai on 21 November 2021, the IOC team has kept in touch with her and had a number of conversations with her – the last one just the past week," an IOC spokesperson said.

"She mentioned again that she is looking forward to a meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach and Emma Terho, the Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, to which we had invited her in the first conversation."

The IOC has had several phone calls with the player but international concerns over her safety and wellbeing have not been allayed. 
The Women`s Tennis Association has suspended tournaments in China due to its concerns over Peng`s safety.

China has not directly commented on Peng`s initial post, but said after the WTA`s move that it "opposes the politicisation of sports". 
The Beijing Olympics will start on Feb. 4.

The International Olympic Committee talked with Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai last week and will meet her in Beijing during next month`s Winter Olympics, it said on Wednesday.

The International Olympic Committee talked with Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai last week and will meet her in Beijing during next month`s Winter Olympics, it said on Wednesday. Peng`s situation became a matter of concern in November when the former women`s number one doubles player alleged that a former Chinese vice premier, Zhang Gaoli, had sexually assaulted her in the past. After that social media post, she was absent from public view for nearly three weeks. Last month Peng said she had never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her, and that the post she made had been misunderstood. Zhang has not commented on the matter. Read Also | China warns about pollution ahead of Beijing 2022; COVID curbs eased "Since the first call that the IOC held with Peng Shuai on 21 November 2021, the IOC team has kept in touch with her and had a number of conversations with her – the last one just the past week," an IOC spokesperson said. "She mentioned again that she is looking forward to a meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach and Emma Terho, the Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, to which we had invited her in the first conversation." The IOC has had several phone calls with the player but international concerns over her safety and wellbeing have not been allayed. The Women`s Tennis Association has suspended tournaments in China due to its concerns over Peng`s safety. China has not directly commented on Peng`s initial post, but said after the WTA`s move that it "opposes the politicisation of sports". The Beijing Olympics will start on Feb. 4.

IOC says it talked to China's Peng Shuai last week and will meet tennis player in Beijing

China has vowed to ''purge'' the internet ahead of the Lunar New Year and Winter Olympics.

The announcement has been made by the Cyberspace Administration of China, which aims to &nbsp;create a "healthy, happy, and peaceful online environment."

The move expands the crackdown on the internet sector in China, as regulators seek to strengthen data privacy and consumer rights and curtail anti-competitive practices in order to curb the outsized influence of technology companies.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-wants-to-purify-the-internet-447582/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

China's cyber regulatory body issued draft rules governing mobile apps, including a requirement for security reviews of apps whose functions could influence public opinion.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">The proposed regulations are part of its campaign run to increase oversight of the country's tech companies.</div>

The proposals will require application providers to carry out a security assessment before launching "new technologies, new applications, and new functions" capable of influencing opinion or mobilising the public.

The regulator added that mobile app providers must not conduct activities that endanger national security, or force users to share non-essential personal information.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-year-china-went-rogue-on-itself-will-crackdowns-hamper-economic-growth-439871" hreflang="en">The year China went rogue on itself: Will crackdowns hamper economic growth?</a>

The CAC said it would focus on cyberbullying and the spreading of online rumours, as well as any online behaviours that could be considered to be showing off lavish lifestyles, encouraging the worship of money or superstition.

It will also strictly prevent "illegal and immoral" celebrities from holding any online events that could help them make a comeback, it added.

The fanfare ahead of next month's Beijing's Winter Olympics is building in China but President Xi Jinping appeared to play down focus on the medals table.

"I don't care how many gold medals Chinese athletes win this time, I care more about the motivation and vitality it will inject into us in the future," Xi told visiting International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Tuesday.

(With inputs from agencies)

China has vowed to ''purge'' the internet ahead of the Lunar New Year and Winter Olympics. The announcement has been made by the Cyberspace Administration of China, which aims to create a "healthy, happy, and peaceful online environment.

China has vowed to ''purge'' the internet ahead of the Lunar New Year and Winter Olympics. The announcement has been made by the Cyberspace Administration of China, which aims to create a "healthy, happy, and peaceful online environment." The move expands the crackdown on the internet sector in China, as regulators seek to strengthen data privacy and consumer rights and curtail anti-competitive practices in order to curb the outsized influence of technology companies. China's cyber regulatory body issued draft rules governing mobile apps, including a requirement for security reviews of apps whose functions could influence public opinion. The proposed regulations are part of its campaign run to increase oversight of the country's tech companies. The proposals will require application providers to carry out a security assessment before launching "new technologies, new applications, and new functions" capable of influencing opinion or mobilising the public. The regulator added that mobile app providers must not conduct activities that endanger national security, or force users to share non-essential personal information. Also read | The year China went rogue on itself: Will crackdowns hamper economic growth? The CAC said it would focus on cyberbullying and the spreading of online rumours, as well as any online behaviours that could be considered to be showing off lavish lifestyles, encouraging the worship of money or superstition. It will also strictly prevent "illegal and immoral" celebrities from holding any online events that could help them make a comeback, it added. The fanfare ahead of next month's Beijing's Winter Olympics is building in China but President Xi Jinping appeared to play down focus on the medals table. "I don't care how many gold medals Chinese athletes win this time, I care more about the motivation and vitality it will inject into us in the future," Xi told visiting International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Tuesday. (With inputs from agencies)

Ahead of Lunar New Year and Winter Olympics, China vows to 'purge' internet

Organisers of next month`s Beijing Winter Olympics slightly eased the strict COVID-19 requirements for participants, a move that means fewer athletes are likely to be tripped up by positive tests, although authorities also warned about seasonal air pollution.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the changes on Monday, which included easing the threshold for being designated positive for COVID-19 from PCR tests and reducing to seven days from 14 days the period for which a person is deemed a close contact.

The changes, which take effect immediately and apply retrospectively, "have been developed in order to further adapt to the reality of the current environment and support the Games participants", the IOC said in a statement.

The slight relaxing of rules for Games participants comes despite China`s scramble to contain local flare-ups of COVID-19, including in Beijing, with four more Chinese provinces finding infections linked to the Beijing cluster amid the Lunar New Year travel season.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/72-cases-of-covid-19-detected-among-early-arrivals-at-beijing-games-none-athletes-446952">72 cases of COVID-19 detected among early arrivals at Beijing Games, none athletes</a>

Organisers also began reporting data on positive COVID-19 tests among Games-related personnel, with 177 confirmed cases found among 3,115 international arrivals from Jan. 4 to Jan. 23, just one of which was among an athlete or support staffer, according to Beijing 2022 data released Sunday and Monday.

China`s strict COVID-19 protocols have led some team officials to express fear of athletes, including those who have recovered from coronavirus, being blocked from participating.

The changes mean that now only participants whose PCR results show a Cycle Threshold (CT) of less than 35 will be considered positive. Previously, the more sensitive CT of 40 was the threshold for designating those positive, the Games` medical chief, Brian McCloskey, said on Sunday.

The Games are set to take place from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20 inside a "closed loop" bubble separating all personnel from the public amid what is effectively a zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy in China that has led it to all but shut its border to international arrivals.

Final preparations are taking place amid the global surge in the highly infectious Omicron coronavirus variant. Organisers said last week that tickets would not be sold to the public.

SMOG WARNING

Meanwhile, the Chinese capital`s notorious smog, which has drastically improved in recent years, emerged as a potential Games irritant on Monday when China`s Ministry of Ecology and Environment warned that winter weather was "very unfavourable" for efforts to keep the air clean.

Read also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/winter-olympics-some-people-may-not-make-it-athletes-risk-failing-beijing-covid-19-tests-says-ioc-expert-446286">Winter Olympics: 'Some people may not make it, athletes risk failing Beijing COVID-19 tests', says IOC expert</a>

Beijing has been enveloped for days in thick smog, with concentrations of hazardous airborne particles known as PM2.5 at 205 micrograms per cubic metre on Monday morning. The World Health Organization recommends levels of no more than 5.

Since China won the bid for the Winter Olympics in 2015, authorities have raised vehicle fuel standards, shut polluting firms and cut coal consumption in a bid to make the Games "green".

Authorities will take action against polluters in Beijing and neighbouring Hebei province if there are warnings of heavy pollution during the Olympics to ensure that they will be held in a "good environment", environment ministry spokesman Liu Youbin said on Monday.

In addition to COVID-19 and pollution, preparations for the Games have been clouded by a diplomatic boycott by countries including the United States over China`s human rights record. China says that betrays Olympic principles and denies rights abuses.

Organisers of next month`s Beijing Winter Olympics slightly eased the strict COVID-19 requirements for participants, a move that means fewer athletes are likely to be tripped up by positive tests, although authorities also warned about seasonal air pollution.

Organisers of next month`s Beijing Winter Olympics slightly eased the strict COVID-19 requirements for participants, a move that means fewer athletes are likely to be tripped up by positive tests, although authorities also warned about seasonal air pollution. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the changes on Monday, which included easing the threshold for being designated positive for COVID-19 from PCR tests and reducing to seven days from 14 days the period for which a person is deemed a close contact. The changes, which take effect immediately and apply retrospectively, "have been developed in order to further adapt to the reality of the current environment and support the Games participants", the IOC said in a statement. The slight relaxing of rules for Games participants comes despite China`s scramble to contain local flare-ups of COVID-19, including in Beijing, with four more Chinese provinces finding infections linked to the Beijing cluster amid the Lunar New Year travel season. Read Also | 72 cases of COVID-19 detected among early arrivals at Beijing Games, none athletes Organisers also began reporting data on positive COVID-19 tests among Games-related personnel, with 177 confirmed cases found among 3,115 international arrivals from Jan. 4 to Jan. 23, just one of which was among an athlete or support staffer, according to Beijing 2022 data released Sunday and Monday. China`s strict COVID-19 protocols have led some team officials to express fear of athletes, including those who have recovered from coronavirus, being blocked from participating. The changes mean that now only participants whose PCR results show a Cycle Threshold (CT) of less than 35 will be considered positive. Previously, the more sensitive CT of 40 was the threshold for designating those positive, the Games` medical chief, Brian McCloskey, said on Sunday. The Games are set to take place from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20 inside a "closed loop" bubble separating all personnel from the public amid what is effectively a zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy in China that has led it to all but shut its border to international arrivals. Final preparations are taking place amid the global surge in the highly infectious Omicron coronavirus variant. Organisers said last week that tickets would not be sold to the public. SMOG WARNING Meanwhile, the Chinese capital`s notorious smog, which has drastically improved in recent years, emerged as a potential Games irritant on Monday when China`s Ministry of Ecology and Environment warned that winter weather was "very unfavourable" for efforts to keep the air clean. Read also | Winter Olympics: 'Some people may not make it, athletes risk failing Beijing COVID-19 tests', says IOC expert Beijing has been enveloped for days in thick smog, with concentrations of hazardous airborne particles known as PM2.5 at 205 micrograms per cubic metre on Monday morning. The World Health Organization recommends levels of no more than 5. Since China won the bid for the Winter Olympics in 2015, authorities have raised vehicle fuel standards, shut polluting firms and cut coal consumption in a bid to make the Games "green". Authorities will take action against polluters in Beijing and neighbouring Hebei province if there are warnings of heavy pollution during the Olympics to ensure that they will be held in a "good environment", environment ministry spokesman Liu Youbin said on Monday. In addition to COVID-19 and pollution, preparations for the Games have been clouded by a diplomatic boycott by countries including the United States over China`s human rights record. China says that betrays Olympic principles and denies rights abuses.

China warns about pollution ahead of Beijing 2022; COVID curbs eased

Beijing Olympics organisers said on Sunday that they had confirmed 72 cases of COVID-19 among 2,586 Games-related personnel entering China from Jan. 4 to Jan. 22, with no cases among 171 athletes and team officials arriving in that period.

Final preparations are taking place for the Winter Games amid a global surge in cases of the highly infectious Omicron coronavirus variant. The Games are set to take place from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20 inside a "closed loop" bubble that separates all event personnel from the public.

Of the confirmed cases, 39 were found in testing at the airport and 33 inside the loop, organisers said. Participants in the bubble are subject to daily testing, with 336,421 PCR tests administered from Jan. 4 to Jan. 22.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/winter-olympics-some-people-may-not-make-it-athletes-risk-failing-beijing-covid-19-tests-says-ioc-expert-446286">Winter Olympics: 'Some people may not make it, athletes risk failing Beijing COVID-19 tests', says IOC expert</a>

All Games participants need two negative PCR test results within 96 hours of their departure to China, and most are travelling on specially arranged charter flights.

Last week, organisers said that tickets for the Olympics would not be sold to the general public due to COVID-19, and would instead be distributed to groups of people who would be required to undertake strict prevention measures before, during and after attending events.

China has managed to contain domestic outbreaks of COVID-19 since it first emerged in the central city of Wuhan, and has all but shut its borders to international arrivals.

On Sunday, Beijing`s city government introduced further measures to contain COVID-19 after finding nine locally transmitted cases the previous day.

Beijing Olympics organisers said on Sunday that they had confirmed 72 cases of COVID-19 among 2,586 Games-related personnel entering China from Jan. 4 to Jan. 22, with no cases among 171 athletes and team officials arriving in that period.

Beijing Olympics organisers said on Sunday that they had confirmed 72 cases of COVID-19 among 2,586 Games-related personnel entering China from Jan. 4 to Jan. 22, with no cases among 171 athletes and team officials arriving in that period. Final preparations are taking place for the Winter Games amid a global surge in cases of the highly infectious Omicron coronavirus variant. The Games are set to take place from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20 inside a "closed loop" bubble that separates all event personnel from the public. Of the confirmed cases, 39 were found in testing at the airport and 33 inside the loop, organisers said. Participants in the bubble are subject to daily testing, with 336,421 PCR tests administered from Jan. 4 to Jan. 22. Read Also | Winter Olympics: 'Some people may not make it, athletes risk failing Beijing COVID-19 tests', says IOC expert All Games participants need two negative PCR test results within 96 hours of their departure to China, and most are travelling on specially arranged charter flights. Last week, organisers said that tickets for the Olympics would not be sold to the general public due to COVID-19, and would instead be distributed to groups of people who would be required to undertake strict prevention measures before, during and after attending events. China has managed to contain domestic outbreaks of COVID-19 since it first emerged in the central city of Wuhan, and has all but shut its borders to international arrivals. On Sunday, Beijing`s city government introduced further measures to contain COVID-19 after finding nine locally transmitted cases the previous day.

72 cases of COVID-19 detected among early arrivals at Beijing Games, none athletes

Strict COVID-19 testing requirements for the Beijing Winter Olympics could see more athletes from high-risk Omicron regions banned from participating, but the system in place will be as flexible as possible, an Olympic medical adviser told Reuters.

Experts have warned that China`s strict "zero-COVID" strategy, as well as its more sensitive testing protocols, could see more athletes excluded from the Games scheduled to take place between Feb. 4 and Feb. 20 - especially from regions that have seen a spike in the highly infectious Omicron variant.

"Some people might not make it, but we are trying to put in place ways in which they can prove with extra testing that although they did have Omicron, they are no longer infectious and can be allowed into China," said Brian McCloskey, a member of the International Olympic Committee`s&nbsp;Medical Expert Panel&nbsp;advising on health measures.

"But it is the countries that saw the early spike in cases that will be the most engaged with it (the testing system)," he told Reuters. 
The Games will proceed in a "closed loop" that will keep overseas athletes from mingling with the Chinese population, and China has also as a precaution restricted spectator ticket allocations.

Read Also&nbsp; |<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/national-olympic-committees-advise-athletes-to-carry-burner-phones-in-beijing-olympics-446260">&nbsp;National Olympic Committees advise athletes to carry burner phones in Beijing Olympics</a>

While some countries are trying to manage the transition from "pandemic" to "endemic", China has focused on stamping out new transmission chains as soon as they arise.

That involves a stringent quarantine policy, city-wide lockdowns and mass testing programmes that kick in as soon as any outbreaks occur, and hosting the Winter Olympics is a major test, said McCloskey.

"They are taking a risk on their zero-COVID strategy that they wouldn`t have had to take if they didn`t have the Olympics," he said. 
Still, the handling of Swiss snowboarder Patrizia Kummer, who is not vaccinated, shows that China is showing some flexibility, with the athlete allowed to quarantine for three weeks instead, McCloskey added.

The risks of hosting international sports events during the pandemic have come under fresh scrutiny this week after Australia deported the unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic on Sunday for violating the country`s COVID-19 entry rules. 
McCloskey said that while COVID-19 was a particular challenge, public health risks have long been a major concern for Olympic organisers, with the Zika virus also testing organisers in Brazil in 2016.

"My expectation is that we will not be dealing with COVID in the same way for 2024," he said. "But we will have to have surveillance systems in place to make sure that should anything happen either in the build up to the games or during them, that we will recognise it very quickly and respond very quickly."

Strict COVID-19 testing requirements for the Beijing Winter Olympics could see more athletes from high-risk Omicron regions banned from participating, but the system in place will be as flexible as possible, an Olympic medical adviser told Reuters.

Strict COVID-19 testing requirements for the Beijing Winter Olympics could see more athletes from high-risk Omicron regions banned from participating, but the system in place will be as flexible as possible, an Olympic medical adviser told Reuters. Experts have warned that China`s strict "zero-COVID" strategy, as well as its more sensitive testing protocols, could see more athletes excluded from the Games scheduled to take place between Feb. 4 and Feb. 20 - especially from regions that have seen a spike in the highly infectious Omicron variant. "Some people might not make it, but we are trying to put in place ways in which they can prove with extra testing that although they did have Omicron, they are no longer infectious and can be allowed into China," said Brian McCloskey, a member of the International Olympic Committee`s Medical Expert Panel advising on health measures. "But it is the countries that saw the early spike in cases that will be the most engaged with it (the testing system)," he told Reuters. The Games will proceed in a "closed loop" that will keep overseas athletes from mingling with the Chinese population, and China has also as a precaution restricted spectator ticket allocations. Read Also | National Olympic Committees advise athletes to carry burner phones in Beijing Olympics While some countries are trying to manage the transition from "pandemic" to "endemic", China has focused on stamping out new transmission chains as soon as they arise. That involves a stringent quarantine policy, city-wide lockdowns and mass testing programmes that kick in as soon as any outbreaks occur, and hosting the Winter Olympics is a major test, said McCloskey. "They are taking a risk on their zero-COVID strategy that they wouldn`t have had to take if they didn`t have the Olympics," he said. Still, the handling of Swiss snowboarder Patrizia Kummer, who is not vaccinated, shows that China is showing some flexibility, with the athlete allowed to quarantine for three weeks instead, McCloskey added. The risks of hosting international sports events during the pandemic have come under fresh scrutiny this week after Australia deported the unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic on Sunday for violating the country`s COVID-19 entry rules. McCloskey said that while COVID-19 was a particular challenge, public health risks have long been a major concern for Olympic organisers, with the Zika virus also testing organisers in Brazil in 2016. "My expectation is that we will not be dealing with COVID in the same way for 2024," he said. "But we will have to have surveillance systems in place to make sure that should anything happen either in the build up to the games or during them, that we will recognise it very quickly and respond very quickly."

Winter Olympics: 'Some people may not make it, athletes risk failing Beijing COVID-19 tests', says IOC expert

National Olympic Committees in some Western countries are advising their athletes to leave personal devices at home or use temporary phones due to cybersecurity concerns at next month`s Winter Games in Beijing.

Many NOCs said they will provide their athletes and staff with temporary devices to avert security risks and combat any surveillance during the Games taking place from Feb. 4-20 in China.

"It should be assumed that every text, email, online visit, and application access can be monitored or compromised," the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in an advisory.

It suggested using rental or disposable laptops and phones while in Beijing or wiping all data from personal devices before and after travelling there. It also recommended that members install virtual private networks (VPNs) on devices before leaving the States.

Despite safeguards in place to protect their systems and data, there should be "no expectation of data security or privacy while operating in China," the USOPC added.

Beijing Olympic officials could not immediately be reached for comment. 
The Canadian Olympic Committee said it has advised members to consider leaving personal devices at home and be extra diligent since the Games presented "a unique opportunity for cybercrime".

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/covid-19-prohibits-public-sale-of-beijing-olympics-tickets-445454">COVID-19 prohibits public sale of Beijing Olympics tickets</a>

The Swiss and Swedish committees will also provide new devices to their delegations and have briefed them on measures they can take against cybersecurity.

"We also provide information to athletes about the situation in China in cooperation with the organisation Civil Rights Defenders, so that the athletes can make their own decision about how to use personal equipment during the Olympics," the Swedish committee said.

The British Olympic Association said it had given athletes and staff practical advice with regards to taking their personal devices to Beijing and would provide temporary devices to those who wanted them.

Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant reported last week that the country`s Olympic committee will equip its team members with unused devices. Some other countries are less concerned about cybersecurity matters in Beijing, however.

The NOCs of Slovenia and Slovakia said they will not be offering temporary devices to team members, while Croatia`s NOC said it will let its delegation take their own devices and Serbia said it was planning no additional cybersecurity measures.

Separately, researchers have said the Beijing Organising Committee`s MY2022 app, which all attendees must use to monitor their health, contains security flaws that make it vulnerable to privacy breaches.

Yu Hong, head of the IOC`s technology department, said such issues were natural when developing this kind of app, which her department was constantly updating in order to tackle them.

National Olympic Committees in some Western countries are advising their athletes to leave personal devices at home or use temporary phones due to cybersecurity concerns at next month`s Winter Games in Beijing.

National Olympic Committees in some Western countries are advising their athletes to leave personal devices at home or use temporary phones due to cybersecurity concerns at next month`s Winter Games in Beijing. Many NOCs said they will provide their athletes and staff with temporary devices to avert security risks and combat any surveillance during the Games taking place from Feb. 4-20 in China. "It should be assumed that every text, email, online visit, and application access can be monitored or compromised," the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in an advisory. It suggested using rental or disposable laptops and phones while in Beijing or wiping all data from personal devices before and after travelling there. It also recommended that members install virtual private networks (VPNs) on devices before leaving the States. Despite safeguards in place to protect their systems and data, there should be "no expectation of data security or privacy while operating in China," the USOPC added. Beijing Olympic officials could not immediately be reached for comment. The Canadian Olympic Committee said it has advised members to consider leaving personal devices at home and be extra diligent since the Games presented "a unique opportunity for cybercrime". Read Also | COVID-19 prohibits public sale of Beijing Olympics tickets The Swiss and Swedish committees will also provide new devices to their delegations and have briefed them on measures they can take against cybersecurity. "We also provide information to athletes about the situation in China in cooperation with the organisation Civil Rights Defenders, so that the athletes can make their own decision about how to use personal equipment during the Olympics," the Swedish committee said. The British Olympic Association said it had given athletes and staff practical advice with regards to taking their personal devices to Beijing and would provide temporary devices to those who wanted them. Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant reported last week that the country`s Olympic committee will equip its team members with unused devices. Some other countries are less concerned about cybersecurity matters in Beijing, however. The NOCs of Slovenia and Slovakia said they will not be offering temporary devices to team members, while Croatia`s NOC said it will let its delegation take their own devices and Serbia said it was planning no additional cybersecurity measures. Separately, researchers have said the Beijing Organising Committee`s MY2022 app, which all attendees must use to monitor their health, contains security flaws that make it vulnerable to privacy breaches. Yu Hong, head of the IOC`s technology department, said such issues were natural when developing this kind of app, which her department was constantly updating in order to tackle them.

National Olympic Committees advise athletes to carry burner phones in Beijing Olympics

Tickets for the Winter Olympics set to begin on Feb. 4 will be distributed to "targeted" groups of people and will not be sold to the general public, the organising committee said on Monday, in the latest setback to the Games inflicted by COVID-19.

Organisers had said in September that there would not be any international spectators at the Games, under COVID-19 prevention policies that have all but shut China`s borders to international travellers.

It cited the "severe and complex" COVID-19 situation and the need to protect the safety of Olympics personnel and spectators in Monday`s announcement.

Read Also |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/you-are-our-champion-deported-novak-djokovic-welcomed-back-to-serbia-445438">'You are our champion': Deported Novak Djokovic welcomed back to Serbia</a>

Local spectators who receive tickets must observe strict COVID-19 prevention measures before, during and after attending Olympic events, the committee said. It did not give further details, or further specify how tickets would be distributed.

China, which has largely managed to curb local COVID-19 infections, is scrambling to prevent the spread of scattered outbreaks of the highly infections Omicron variant just as the busy Lunar New Year travel period begins.

The Olympics, to be held in the Chinese capital and neighbouring Hebei province, will take place in a "closed loop" that will keep athletes and other Games personnel separated from the general Chinese public. Most participants will arrive on special charter planes.

Last month, North America`s National Hockey League said its players would not participate in the Olympic tournament in Beijing due to COVID-19 disruptions of the league schedule.

Tickets for the Winter Olympics set to begin on Feb. 4 will be distributed to "targeted" groups of people and will not be sold to the general public, the organising committee said on Monday, in the latest setback to the Games inflicted by COVID-19.

Tickets for the Winter Olympics set to begin on Feb. 4 will be distributed to "targeted" groups of people and will not be sold to the general public, the organising committee said on Monday, in the latest setback to the Games inflicted by COVID-19. Organisers had said in September that there would not be any international spectators at the Games, under COVID-19 prevention policies that have all but shut China`s borders to international travellers. It cited the "severe and complex" COVID-19 situation and the need to protect the safety of Olympics personnel and spectators in Monday`s announcement. Read Also | 'You are our champion': Deported Novak Djokovic welcomed back to Serbia Local spectators who receive tickets must observe strict COVID-19 prevention measures before, during and after attending Olympic events, the committee said. It did not give further details, or further specify how tickets would be distributed. China, which has largely managed to curb local COVID-19 infections, is scrambling to prevent the spread of scattered outbreaks of the highly infections Omicron variant just as the busy Lunar New Year travel period begins. The Olympics, to be held in the Chinese capital and neighbouring Hebei province, will take place in a "closed loop" that will keep athletes and other Games personnel separated from the general Chinese public. Most participants will arrive on special charter planes. Last month, North America`s National Hockey League said its players would not participate in the Olympic tournament in Beijing due to COVID-19 disruptions of the league schedule.

COVID-19 prohibits public sale of Beijing Olympics tickets

The population of the Chinese city Tianjin is being rigorously tested after two Omicron cases were reported.

The first two cases confirmed in Tianjin were a 10-year-old girl and a 29-year-old woman working at the after-school center. Both were infected by the omicron variant.

In subsequent testing of close contacts, 18 others tested positive and 767 tested negative as of Saturday night.

The outbreak poses risks to Beijing and the upcoming Winter Olympics, because of the large number of commuters working and living in the two cities.

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According to the National Health Commission, the city emerged as a new area of concern after more than 20 Covid cases were reported there in the last few days, most of them imported from abroad.

Authorities have advised residents to stay at or near home to be available for the community-level nucleic-acid screening.&nbsp;

They have been told that until they obtain a negative test result, they will not receive a "green" code on smartphone Covid-tracing apps that nearly all people in China are now required to present when using public transport and in other situations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wrongful-act-beijing-fines-7-eleven-for-calling-taiwan-an-independent-country-443367" hreflang="en">'Wrongful act': Beijing fines 7-Eleven for calling Taiwan an 'independent country'</a>

It comes after the local transmission of the imported Omicron variant was found in the southern city of Guangzhou.

China has already been struggling with a larger outbreak centred on the northwestern city of Xi'an that has sparked questioning of the country's zero-tolerance policy of strict lockdowns and immediate mass testing to curb outbreaks.

Chinese authorities have adopted draconian measures throughout the pandemic under their policy of seeking to stamp out every last case.

That “zero tolerance” policy, which has led to frequent lockdowns, universal masking, and mass testing, has not been entirely successful.

It has resulted in massive disruptions to travel and trade, but Beijing credits it with largely containing the spread of the virus.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The population of the Chinese city Tianjin is being rigorously tested after two Omicron cases were reported. The first two cases confirmed in Tianjin were a 10-year-old girl and a 29-year-old woman working at the after-school center.

The population of the Chinese city Tianjin is being rigorously tested after two Omicron cases were reported. The first two cases confirmed in Tianjin were a 10-year-old girl and a 29-year-old woman working at the after-school center. Both were infected by the omicron variant. In subsequent testing of close contacts, 18 others tested positive and 767 tested negative as of Saturday night. The outbreak poses risks to Beijing and the upcoming Winter Olympics, because of the large number of commuters working and living in the two cities. According to the National Health Commission, the city emerged as a new area of concern after more than 20 Covid cases were reported there in the last few days, most of them imported from abroad. Authorities have advised residents to stay at or near home to be available for the community-level nucleic-acid screening. They have been told that until they obtain a negative test result, they will not receive a "green" code on smartphone Covid-tracing apps that nearly all people in China are now required to present when using public transport and in other situations. Also read | 'Wrongful act': Beijing fines 7-Eleven for calling Taiwan an 'independent country' It comes after the local transmission of the imported Omicron variant was found in the southern city of Guangzhou. China has already been struggling with a larger outbreak centred on the northwestern city of Xi'an that has sparked questioning of the country's zero-tolerance policy of strict lockdowns and immediate mass testing to curb outbreaks. Chinese authorities have adopted draconian measures throughout the pandemic under their policy of seeking to stamp out every last case. That “zero tolerance” policy, which has led to frequent lockdowns, universal masking, and mass testing, has not been entirely successful. It has resulted in massive disruptions to travel and trade, but Beijing credits it with largely containing the spread of the virus. (With inputs from agencies)

Two Omicron cases reported in Chinese city Tianjin, population of around 14 million being rigorously tested

Activists have criticised Tesla CEO Elon Musk for opening a new showroom in Xinjiang despite concerns about human rights abuse.

The South African billionaire took to micro-blogging platform Twitter to make the announcement and said, “Let’s start Xinjiang’s all-electric journey!”

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"Elon Musk must close Tesla’s Xinjiang showroom," Council on American-Islamic Relations said on its official Twitter account.

“No American corporation should be doing business in a region that is the focal point of a campaign of genocide targeting a religious and ethnic minority,” said the group’s communications director, Ibrahim Hooper, said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stupidity-and-shorted-sightedness-china-warns-walmart-and-sams-club-over-removal-of-xinjiang-products-441501">Also read |&nbsp;'Stupidity and shorted-sightedness': China warns Walmart and Sam's Club over removal of Xinjiang products</a>

US trade group, the Alliance for American Manufacturing, and US senator Marco Rubio also condemned the decision.

Pressure on foreign companies to take positions on Xinjiang, Tibet, Taiwan and other politically charged issues has been rising.

Activists and foreign governments say some 1 million Uyghurs and members of other mostly Muslim minorities have been confined in detention camps in Xinjiang.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/intel-apologises-to-chinese-population-for-hurting-their-sentiments-over-xinjiang-comments-439553">Also read |&nbsp;Intel apologises to Chinese population for hurting their sentiments over Xinjiang comments</a>

China has rejected accusations of forced labour or any other abuses there, saying that the camps provide vocational training and that companies should respect its policies there.

The United States and a few other countries announced&nbsp;a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February over the issue.

Washington has banned imports of Xinjiang cotton and blacklists Chinese companies that it says have aided Beijing's policy there.

China's ruling Communist Party pushes companies to adopt its positions in their advertising and on websites. It has attacked clothing and other brands that express concern about reports of forced labour and other abuses in Xinjiang.

This includes Swedish fashion retailer H&amp;M, Intel Corp., the world’s biggest maker of computer chips and Walmart Inc. All of them had openly criticised China over Xinjiang and as a result had faced boycott campaigns in the country.

(With inputs from agencies)

Activists have criticised Tesla CEO Elon Musk for opening a new showroom in Xinjiang despite concerns about human rights abuse. The South African billionaire took to micro-blogging platform Twitter to make the announcement and said, “Let’s start Xinjiang’s all-electric journey!

Activists have criticised Tesla CEO Elon Musk for opening a new showroom in Xinjiang despite concerns about human rights abuse. The South African billionaire took to micro-blogging platform Twitter to make the announcement and said, “Let’s start Xinjiang’s all-electric journey!” "Elon Musk must close Tesla’s Xinjiang showroom," Council on American-Islamic Relations said on its official Twitter account. “No American corporation should be doing business in a region that is the focal point of a campaign of genocide targeting a religious and ethnic minority,” said the group’s communications director, Ibrahim Hooper, said in a statement. Also read | 'Stupidity and shorted-sightedness': China warns Walmart and Sam's Club over removal of Xinjiang products US trade group, the Alliance for American Manufacturing, and US senator Marco Rubio also condemned the decision. Pressure on foreign companies to take positions on Xinjiang, Tibet, Taiwan and other politically charged issues has been rising. Activists and foreign governments say some 1 million Uyghurs and members of other mostly Muslim minorities have been confined in detention camps in Xinjiang. Also read | Intel apologises to Chinese population for hurting their sentiments over Xinjiang comments China has rejected accusations of forced labour or any other abuses there, saying that the camps provide vocational training and that companies should respect its policies there. The United States and a few other countries announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February over the issue. Washington has banned imports of Xinjiang cotton and blacklists Chinese companies that it says have aided Beijing's policy there. China's ruling Communist Party pushes companies to adopt its positions in their advertising and on websites. It has attacked clothing and other brands that express concern about reports of forced labour and other abuses in Xinjiang. This includes Swedish fashion retailer H&M, Intel Corp., the world’s biggest maker of computer chips and Walmart Inc. All of them had openly criticised China over Xinjiang and as a result had faced boycott campaigns in the country. (With inputs from agencies)

Activists slam Elon Musk for opening showroom in 'focal point of genocide,' Xinjiang

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