Unlike Tokyo, Spectators Will Be Allowed at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing

On Wednesday, 29 Sept., the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that spectators from mainland China who meet the COVID-19 guidelines will be able to attend the Olympic and Paralympic 2022 Beijing Winter Games. With this new announcement, it is clear that no spectators outside of mainland China will be allowed to view the Games. The Olympic Winter Games will begin on 4 Feb., 2022. Subsequently, the Paralympic Winter Games will begin on 4 March, 2022.

This is a stark contrast from the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, as spectators were not allowed in Tokyo. However, a limited number of spectators were allowed at events held outside of Tokyo.

While the specifics of the COVID-19 guidelines for spectators are still unannounced, the Playbooks for Beijing 2022 are expected to be released in late October, followed by a second, published version in December.