Beijing Olympics Defy Covid-19

With sheer energy and strict pandemic control measures, China successfully commenced the Winter Olympic 2022. The organization of the Olympics had been a daunting challenge for Beijing, especially after the frequent reemergence of waves of pandemics. However, with the heroic resilience and reliance on scientific knowledge, technology, and solid partnership with WHO, the Beijing Winter Olympics will be remembered as historic.

For a country that faced the first wrath of the virus in 2019, organizing such a massive event and bringing athletes from across the world was a huge risk. However, the Chinese zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy initially occurred absolute, but it is proven to be an operative policy of virus containment with time. China relentlessly worked on testing, tracing, isolating, and monitoring the public to prevent COVID from spreading among the athletes, administration, organizers, and volunteers at the Olympics.

This zero-tolerance policy related to COVID is based on the scientific approach to dealing with the virus. There were lockdowns, quarantines, and mass testing with strict protocols to move in the masses. Due to these strict measures and massive vaccination, China recorded less minor cases as compared with the US in the past year despite the disparity in population, thanks to effective policy.

For the Olympics, despite the uneasy approach and uncalled-for hue and cry over the measures from a few western countries, China will continue its policy to make the country virus-free. For the games, a unique system of staying in a “close loop” has been developed, making all those participating in the games remain in this entire system to prevent them from engaging the masses. In this loop are athletes, staff and officials, volunteers, and journalists.

Thus far, China has remained highly successful in handling the virus amid such a huge event happening right now. Furthermore, this has been recognized by WHO and by staunch critics. Media reports are favoring the successful managing the entire process through better and foolproof policies. The comparison with Tokyo Olympics is not relevant anymore since the winter Olympic Games have remained far better controlled and restricted than the Tokyo Olympics. Beijing has outperformed the entire critical landscape and appeared a winner confronting this daunting challenge.

The President of International Olympics Committee Thomas Bach and WHO DG Tedros Adhanom met in China to oversee the arrangements and further collaboration between two organizations. The DG of WHO also ran with the Olympic torch, reflecting confidence in pandemic control measures made by China.

In addition, the close coordination between China, IOC, and WHO gives impetus to international vaccination drive as the Olympics provided the opportunity to stakeholders of sharing the stage in Beijing and coordinate. The DG of WHO reaffirmed that WHO has set the benchmark and given way forward to saving precious lives.

WHO considers vaccination support drive as a collective to protect the vulnerable and ensure an equitable, healthy life for humanity. The game’s hosting and successful organization also reflect China’s global contribution and efforts in global health. This is also reflecting China’s vaccination donation to the various countries of the world. The collectiveness at a more significant level reflects the unification of thought and action against the pandemic, unlike forces of unilateralism.

A week into the Beijing Olympics, since the Olympics torch run and inaugural ceremony, no breach of pandemic control and unusual indiscipline has been reported in China. In contrast, several international dignitaries were present in China, including Secretary-General of United Nations, DG of WHO, President of IOC, President of Russia, Prime minister of Pakistan, and representatives of Central Asian Republics. It reflects the determination of Beijing for the successful hosting of games and boosts its confidence to go ahead with its pandemic policy.

(Muhammad Asif Noor, The writer is the Founder President Friends of BRI Forum.)