Winter Olympics: IOC hopes for 30-50 per cent spectator capacity at venues as organisers invite Beijing-based Chinese nationals and foreigners to watch the Games
- IOC Executive Director Christophe Dubi says organisers are reaching out to the community and working with embassies to invite foreigners living in Beijing
- The Winter Olympics are being held inside a ‘closed loop’, which is sealed off from the rest of China as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19
A senior Olympic official said he hoped to fill 30 to 50 per cent of venues during the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, even after organisers decided against selling tickets to the public because of Covid-19 outbreaks in China.
The exact audience capacity had yet to be confirmed, however, and may vary for outdoor and indoor venues, Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi told the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) media arm in an interview released on Tuesday.
“In terms of capacity we are not there yet, because it has to be fine-tuned at a venue-by-venue basis, but I’d say if we have one person out of three or out of two, that would already be a good result,” Dubi said.
“It could also depend on whether it is outdoors or indoors. But the great thing is that we are going to have spectators.”
Spectators will be allowed on an invitation basis and is not restricted to Chinese nationals, with foreigners living in Beijing also welcome. Dubi said organisers were already reaching out to the community and working with embassies to identify anyone living in Beijing who may be interested in watching the events.
“This is not only for Chinese spectators but for Chinese residents, and we were very insistent on that,” Dubi said.