China concerned about Omicron effect on Beijing Winter Games

The new coronavirus variant Omicron is the latest challenge facing the Beijing Winter Games

China says the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is a concern for organisers of the Beijing Winter Olympics but it remains confident the games will be held as scheduled in February.

The new variant is the latest challenge facing the games, which have taken criticism over the lack of natural snow in the Chinese capital, the country’s human rights record, and tennis star Peng Shuai’s recent accusations of sexual assault against a former top leader of the ruling Communist Party.

At a daily briefing on November 30, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Omicron would “certainly bring some challenges in terms of prevention and control”. “I’m fully confident that the Winter Olympics will be held as scheduled, smoothly and successfully,” Zhao said, citing China’s experience in largely controlling widespread infections since the pandemic began in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019.