While the IOC had hoped for spectators at the 2022 Olympics, the Chinese authorities has suspended all sales of tickets to the general public with immediate effect.

Hardly surprising, but the Chinese authorities have decided that no tickets to the 2022 Olympics in Beijing will be sold to the general public. Only small groups of carefully selected individuals will be allowed to watch the events live. 

In the announcement, officials cite the need to protect the health of the participants and spectators at the 2022 Olympics from the threat of Covid infection as the main reason for terminating ticket sales to the general public. 

“Given the current grave and complicated situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators, it was decided that tickets should not be sold anymore, but be part of an adapted program that will invite groups of spectators to be present on site during the Games,” Beijing 2022 said in a press release. 

“The organizers expect that these spectators will strictly abide by the COVID-19 countermeasures before, during and after each event as pre-conditions for the safe and sound delivery of the Games,” the organizers announced. 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) are not objecting to the termination of general tickets sales, but had obviously hoped for a broader audience at the Beijing Winter Games. 

“The IOC welcomes that there will be invited spectators in the stadium. We respect the finalized spectator policy in the interest of safe Games for everybody,” an IOC spokesperson said.

The 2022 Olympics in Beijing take place from February 4 to 20. The organizers recently announced that the Games will not be postponed or cancelled.