“We used to be afraid of doping tests, now we are afraid of PCR tests”: why the Beijing Olympics can turn into a lottery

"No one can guarantee"

The question of the advisability of holding the Olympics in Beijing during the pandemic has been raised repeatedly, and each time the organizers have stated that thanks to the strict “covid protocol”, the participants in the competition will be protected from infection, and the tournament itself will be held at the highest level.

However, a little more than a week before the start of the Games, this is no longer so certain.

In recent days, figure skaters Mikhail Kolyada and Yegor Bazin, skeletonist Nikita Tregubov, bobsledders Alexei Pushkarev and Vasily Kondratenko have passed positive PCR tests in the Russian national team.

Similar problems in other countries.

So, Norwegian skiers Anne Kjersti Kalvo and Heidi Weng fell ill with coronavirus, and the Scandinavian men's team postponed their flight to Beijing due to the discovery of COVID-19 by sprint coach Arild Monsen.

As Alexander Bessmertnykh, the silver medalist of the Games in Sochi, admitted, the situation is very strange, since many athletes who receive information about infection with an infection feel good and it is not entirely clear whether they are really sick.  

“We are all sitting on a powder keg.

Today you are preparing, and tomorrow you or someone from the team has a coronavirus and goodbye to the Olympics.

Previously, everyone was afraid of a doping test, and now a PCR test.

For some reason, no one talks about the proportion of errors in the analyzes and what is the chance that the next result after the already missed race will not be negative, ”the skier is surprised.

In addition, every day there is new information about the representatives of the delegations infected with the coronavirus who have already arrived in China. In this regard, according to the former head of the Russian Biathlon Union Vladimir Drachev, the cancellation of the 2022 Games cannot be ruled out. The specialist believes that everything will depend on the growth dynamics of positive PCR tests.

“In our world today it is possible to imagine anything. The main question is how much the infection will interfere with the competition. If the disease spreads across teams, athletes, and the coaching staff in the Olympic village, then I do not rule out the cancellation of the tournament. We see the situation in the Norwegian ski team. They all went into quarantine so that others would not get sick and there would be no problems in Beijing. Therefore, no one can give guarantees. On the other hand, will something terrible happen if the Games are suddenly cancelled? The main thing is that everyone is alive and well. It's bad if the war starts, then people will die. The Olympics will not take place and okay. Let's go further, we will continue to play sports, ”said Drachev. 

Did not rule out the option of canceling the tournament and three-time Olympic champion Irina Rodnina.

However, the deputy of the State Duma is more inclined to the option that the competition will take place, since both the participants and the organizers want it.

“I don’t know how to guess on the coffee grounds.

Everything is possible, no one gives any guarantees here.

Nevertheless, given the control under which the athletes go to the Games and will be at them, I think the Olympics will be held in full.

In addition, do not forget that the youth ice hockey world championship, canceled due to the coronavirus, is held every year.

Games - every four, and the preparation for them is more thorough, ”said the famous athlete.

I agree with the opinion of Rodnina and two-time Olympic champion Sergei Chepikov.

The specialist believes that there will be surprises, but it is not worth dramatizing the situation.

“Cancellation of the competition is difficult to imagine.

China has very good control.

Athletes who test positive are in quarantine.

Of course, it is worth waiting for some unforeseen situations.

There will also be sick people.

However, for such cases, there are spares in the teams.

Therefore, do not exaggerate.

The Chinese side will do everything possible to ensure that the Games are held at a sufficiently high level,” the specialist noted.

Turin Olympic figure skating champion Tatyana Navka considers the cancellation of the Beijing tournament to be too scary a scenario. 

“God forbid.

To be honest, I'm not going to comment on this.

Although everything is possible, no one expected that such a thing would happen in the world.

God forbid, the competition will take place, and our athletes will be able to go there, ”Navka admitted.

"The competition will turn into a lottery"

The Olympics in Beijing, if there is no force majeure and cancellation, in any case will be very different from all the others.

Even from the Tokyo Games.

Due to a new strain of coronavirus, no team is immune from losing a leader, and, according to Sochi Olympic champion Alexander Legkov, luck will come to the fore.

“Some will be more lucky, others less.

To reduce the number of contacts, of course, it is worth asking to settle the athletes one by one.

But not everyone has such powers.

Was there such a possibility before?

We have never had such a situation before.

I have nothing to compare with, ”admitted Legkov.

Bessmertnykh even called the upcoming competitions a very big lottery.

The athlete also expressed doubt that all countries will eventually go to the tournament.

“Many people have not arrived in Beijing yet, but they are already experiencing problems.

In China, I think they will take tests every day.

And no one knows how it will all end.

In addition, you can’t guess how countries will behave.

Some may even refuse to participate if half of the team is out of the tournament due to covid.

What's the point of going there then?

concluded the skier.

In this situation, the only correct option is not to lose the presence of mind.

So says the three-time Olympic champion Anfisa Reztsova.

She is sure that everyone in the Russian biathlon team will remain healthy.

The famous athlete simply does not consider other options.

“We discussed this moment with Christina.

She told me: “Mom, we will go to the Games.”

I guess nothing bad will happen to us, no one will get sick.

If people believe in a positive scenario, then everything will be so.

I am one of them,” said Reztsova.

However, it must be admitted that in the absence of world ranking leaders in various sports at the tournament due to the coronavirus, it will lose its status.

At the same time, according to Drachev, it is already too late to look for a way out of the situation, since many teams are on their way to Beijing.

“If there is a chain of withdrawals from the competition, then the Olympics will turn into a show: whoever remains healthy will compete for medals.

Leaders can leave, and celebrities can.

The same Norwegian team.

Without it, watching ski races is not interesting.

The status of the tournament immediately becomes completely different, much lower, ”explained the former head of the RRF.

As always, the honored coach of Russia Tatiana Tarasova is bright in her statements.

The specialist is also inclined to believe that it is not possible to see an interesting fight for awards everywhere.

“The Olympics will not be canceled because of several positive tests.

I don't think it will be widespread.

However, in some sports, competitions can turn into a farce if the leaders cannot compete due to the coronavirus, ”the specialist admitted.