Trending

Winter Olympics 2022: Only ‘selected’ spectators allowed to attend events, organizers say

BEIJING — Members of the general public will not be able to attend the Winter Olympics next month in Beijing, officials announced Monday.

>> Read more trending news

According to The Associated Press, the organizing committee said in a statement that only “selected” spectators will be allowed at the events, which already had been closed to fans from outside the country amid coronavirus concerns.

“Given the difficult and complicated work of controlling the epidemic, and to protect the health and safety of those involved with the Games, the original plan of offering tickets to the general public has been altered toward spectators from selected groups,” read the committee’s statement, according to the AP.

The news came as the omicron variant continued to fuel case surges in cities such as Tianjin despite strict lockdowns, travel restrictions and mass testing across China, the AP reported.

The Winter Olympics are scheduled for Feb. 4 to 20.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.

More coronavirus pandemic coverage:

>> Coronavirus: How long between exposure to the virus and the start of symptoms?

>> What are your chances of coming into contact with someone who has COVID-19? This tool will tell you

>> How to not let coronavirus pandemic fatigue set in, battle back if it does