Winter Olympics: volunteers enter the health bubble in Beijing
Audio 01:08
A security guard guards the entrance to the closed-loop 'bubble' near the main media center of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing January 25, 2022. REUTERS - THOMAS PETER
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
After the athletes, it was the volunteers who made their entry on Tuesday into the health bubble intended to prevent any contact between the population and the delegations during the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Reporting.
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With our correspondent in Beijing,
Stéphane Lagarde
“
For our country, let’s go!
"
For our people, in battle!"
Amid the flags, the national anthem and slogans sounded on Tuesday in Tiananmen Square for the ceremony of entry of Chinese teams into the health bubble of the Winter Games.
A ceremony led by speed skater Wu Dajing.
Chinese athletes are on the same regime as foreign athletes: once they enter the "closed loop", as the organizers call it, they will not be able to leave it before the end of the competitions.
The same goes for the volunteers who will be inside.
“
The “closed loop” starts this week.
We volunteers will live in it, as if we were in quarantine.
It's a rich experience to be able to participate in the Games,
enthuses this English student at a Beijing university.
As
ordinary citizens, we don't often have the opportunity to attend international events.
»
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To read also: Covid: Beijing tracks down a district of 2 million inhabitants two weeks before the Olympics
70 days without exiting the bubble
The training of the volunteers is worthy of that of the champions, with sandbags to carry for those who will present the medals.
Among the selection criteria for candidates in universities: a race over 3,800 meters and other physical tests;
two Covid tests, and a complete vaccination course to be presented before entering the bubble.
Counting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, plus the quarantine upon leaving, they will have no contact with the outside world for 70 days.
"
Follow in the footsteps of our president
", "
fight to be the first, never give up
" again chanted the athletes on Tiananmen Square, using the slogan of these Olympics: "
Together for a common future
".
A total of 6,000 volunteers, the majority from outside the bubble, are taking part in these Games, according
to Beijing News
.
Other sources speak of 27,000 volunteers, including 13,000 for the Paralympic Games.
With, as for the athletes, the mission to show the best image of the Chinese capital and of China.
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Also to listen: The Olympic Games, an issue of international politics
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