What happens if an athlete tests positive at Beijing Olympics?

For an athlete, participating in an Olympic event is one of the highest ever achievements. They prepare for it by winning over various titles in local, national and international events, train for hours and days and years relentlessly to get a chance at an Olympic event.

However, during these Covid times, there’s an added hurdle they need to pass to be able to participate – the deep nasal and throat swab test several times over. Unlike other preparations and precautions, this one is partially based only on pure luck.

Beijing Winter Olympics is set to open on February 4. Thousands of athletes from various parts of the world are dreaming of their performance and hoping for victory. However, Covid is playing spoilsport (literally) on their careers and dreams.

The Covid situation has only been exasperated by the zero virus tolerance policy adopted by Chinese authorities.

HOW MANY HAVE TESTED POSITIVE?

Reuters reported that Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Organising Committee reported over 200 Covid cases since January 23. These cases include both among airport arrivals and those already in the Games ‘closed loop’ bubble.

India’s Winter Olympics Contingent manager Mohammad Abbas Wani also tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival at the Beijing Airport. Wani is part of the 6-member delegation team from India at the event where Kashmir skiier Arif Khan, the only athlete from the country to have qualified this time, is participating.

There were several more athletes who tested positive before arriving in Beijing, who had to withdraw from the competition altogether. Russian figure skater Mikhail Kolyada announced her withdrawal from the Games after having tested twice before boarding her flight to Beijing.

WHAT IS CHINA’S BEIJING OLYMPIC PROTOCOL FOR COVID?

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Playbook details the dos and don'ts. Here are some highlights:

1. Similar to the Tokyo Olympics strategy, Olympic team members (vaccinated or not) will be required to undergo two Covid tests before boarding their flights to Beijing. Only if they test negative twice will they be allowed to board the flight.

2. The organising committee has arranged for special, separate flights to bring the Olympic teams.

3. Members will then be tested upon arrival. If they test positive they will be taken to isolation centres or medical centres depending upon the requirement.

4. Unvaccinated individuals with medical exemption certificate will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

5. Members will be tested daily even if they are in the Games bubble. Positive tests will be followed up with isolation till they test negative again.

6. Athletes will need to test negative for Covid, 6 hours before their competition.

7. There are a host of other protocols to be followed if a member is determined to be a close contact with a Covid infected person. And a close contact is anyone who’s been in 15-minute contact with an infected person without wearing a mask.

If you pass all that, then you have passed the Covid hurdle to your potential Olympic victory.

WHAT HAPPENS IF ATHLETES TEST POSITIVE DURING GAMES?

Athletes who test positive before even flying to Beijing, won't be allowed in China until they test negative. But for those who test positive after entering the Games bubble, will be quarantined either at an isolation facility or a medical facility.

Such athletes may have access to their training equipment only if their team members are able to arrange for it keeping in line with the protocol of isolation.

If the competition ends before they ‘recover’ - as defined by the Chinese authorities - then the athletes can count themselves out of luck. If there is time however to compete, the athletes can do so after recovery.

Recovery means testing negative at least twice with a 24-hour interval, not showing symptoms or lung damage. After that, the athlete will be treated as a ‘close contact’ and the required protocols will apply.

If an athlete is asymptomatic and tests positive regularly then a special team will look into such cases.

Throughout the Games, the athletes and team members will have separate transport mediums to keep them in the bubble. However, close contacts will have their own transport facility separate from the rest of the bubble members.

If you thought the Tokyo Olympics’ rule of not high-fiving and eating, laughing or cheering loudly was ridiculous enough, give a thought to the Beijing Olympic protocols. The Chinese authorities are taking every measure possible to not burst the bubble and the Olympic team members and athletes are praying they don’t test positive.

With the highly contagious Omicron in the tow, it needs to be seen how many athletes will actually be able to compete in the Winter Olympics.