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Despite an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant worldwide, the 2022 BeijingWinter Olympicsare still happening and will start in exactly one month.
On Monday, International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound toldUSA Todaythat he is “worried” amid the current pandemic and surge in coronavirus cases.
“I don’t think these things are postponable,” he explained. “In almost every respect the arrow has left the bow. They’re going to start Feb. 4 and it would take a real upset of some sort to change that.”
Though the committee hasn’t mandated vaccines in order to participate, the U.S. and Canada have made it a requirement for athletes.
A negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival in China will also be required, and if not fully vaccinated, individuals will face a mandatory 21-day quarantine.
In December, it was announced that two-time Olympic championMikaela Shiffrintestedpositivefor COVID-19, weeks before her anticipated arrival in Beijing.
“I wanted to let you all know that I’m doing well, but unfortunately I had a positive COVID test. I’m following protocol and isolating, & I will miss Lienz. Best of luck to my teammates…I’ll be cheering for you. Thank you all for your support. I’ll see you in the new year,” the 26-year-old alpine skier wrote onTwitterat the time.
In addition to Shiffrin, snowboarderChloe Kimis another one of several athletes to look out for at the Olympics. The 21-year-old will be defending her gold medal on the half-pipe after she earned the top spot at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
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He previously told PEOPLE he’s preparing to “be the best,” but that “when it comes to the competition … it’s not about the destination, more about the journey, you know?”
Chen added, “I definitely feel like the more that I can focus on that sort of mindset, the better it is, the better set I am.”
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The 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony will air the morning of Feb. 4 in the U.S., as Beijing is 12 hours ahead of the Eastern time zone. The program will be available to watch on local NBC stations as well as NBC Sports and streaming on Peacock.
To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, visitTeamUSA.org. Watch the Winter Olympics, beginning this February, and the Winter Paralympics, beginning this March, on NBC.
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source: people.com
