As the countdown began to announce the start of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics at 8 pm local time on the 4th, about 20,000 spectators gathered at the National Stadium, also known as the Nyaoqiao Stadium, began to shout the numbers loudly.

The opening ceremony began with loud shouts, and in time for various performances, the audience waved Chinese flags and lit mobile phones, and volunteers placed in the stands danced to create a festive atmosphere.




It is much smaller than the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, which attended 90,000 spectators.

However, in a situation where COVID-19 is still prevalent around the world, it has made a big difference from the Tokyo Summer Olympics, which were held without spectators.

Tsai Qi, secretary of the Beijing Municipal Communist Party Committee, chairman of the Beijing Winter Olympics organizing committee, said in a welcoming speech, “Under the guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government, we will practice the Olympic ideology of green and openness, and cooperate with the International Olympic Committee to fight COVID-19. I overcame the influence with all my might,” he said.



China has announced for months that it will admit spectators to the Olympics.

The intention was to use it as an opportunity to let the world know that their quarantine system, centered on the so-called 'zero corona', a 'corona tolerance' policy that does not tolerate even a single case of Corona 19 infection, is excellent.

Initially, there were plans to openly sell game tickets to the general public.

However, as the omicron mutation, which has strong radio wave power, spreads, the policy has changed to allow only 'invited' people to enter.


Who is the 'invited spectator'?

I was curious to see who was 'invited' to participate as spectators, and how the 'closed loop' that thoroughly separates Olympic participants from outsiders in the stadium operates. has been included

Of course, strict conditions were attached.

It is basic to have a history of receiving all of the COVID-19 vaccines, and you must not have left Beijing within 14 days.

In addition, you must have a PCR test 48 hours before the opening ceremony and 24 hours before the opening ceremony and test negative, respectively.




Correspondents who passed the conditions and were invited were gathered at the Media Center (where reporters outside the closed loop) in central Beijing's Chang'an Street until 11:30 am on the day of the opening ceremony.

Before boarding the bus, the staff meticulously checked for vaccines and PCR tests.

It takes about 30-40 minutes to go directly from the center to Nyaoqiao, but the bus headed east to Chaoyang Park.

A large search facility was set up here, and thousands of people had already arrived and were lining up.

After going through a temperature check first, there was a place to check ID and belongings.

Since you are attending as a spectator, filming equipment such as cameras is prohibited, and you are allowed to bring only a minimum number of items.



About 90 buses to and from Nyaoqiao were standing densely at the place where they left the prosecutor's office.

There was no explanation as to why I had to use a different bus, but I thought it might be for quarantine or to prevent terrorism.

In front of each bus, a sign with the vehicle number and group name caught my eye.

The 'City Council Propaganda Department', 'City Council Electricity Department', 'City State Assets Committee', 'City Education Work Committee', and 'City Direct Organization' were all organizations related to Beijing.




At 4pm, the bus arrived 3-4km from Nyaoqiao.

While getting out of the car, a number of buses from other regions passed by, and I noticed cars bearing the names of state-owned enterprises and research institutes.

As expected, the figure of parents holding their children's hands in the audience in Nyaoqiao could not be found.


Confidence and anxiety

The entrance to Nyaoqiao was different according to the number written on the table.

This is to prevent contact with Olympic officials inside a closed loop, and volunteers were standing every 2-3 meters of the crowd's circulation to guide them not to go elsewhere.

Allocated seats were on the second floor.

Seating is prohibited in front, behind, and on either side of the seat.



However, on the first floor right in front of it, there were foreign cinematographers from inside the closed loop.

There was only a white fence about a meter high between them.

Security guards were sitting right in front of them, watching for anyone trying to pass or come in contact with.




Nyaoqiao is an open space with a roof, and people inside the closed loop are likely to have no problems as they have daily PCR tests.

However, even within the closed loop, dozens of corona infections are occurring every day.

In the meantime, China has blocked the building even if only close contacts of corona19 confirmed people visit for 'zero corona', and the torch relay also shortened the period to 3 days due to quarantine, followed by blocking public viewing.

I couldn't help but wonder if the quarantine level was lowered to gain face at an event the world was watching.



I could also see her anxious inside.

Densely arranged volunteers rushed to pay attention to spectators' masks if they were even lowered.

Those who attended the opening ceremony must undergo PCR testing 3 days and 7 days after the viewing.

It is known that about 150,000 'invited' spectators will enter the stadium during the Olympics.




Ahead of the 20th Communist Party Congress this fall, when a third term will be decided, President Xi Jinping has vowed to make the Olympics simple, safe and exciting.

The Beijing Winter Olympic Games Organizing Committee has announced that it will prevent the spread of Corona to the outside through a thorough closed-loop operation.

It is noteworthy whether self-confidence amidst anxiety can lead to the end.