Athletes have been slamming Olympic organizers, with concerns about subzero temperatures and quarantine regulations flooding in.
The Winter Games in Beijing began four days ago with the promise of being “streamlined, safe and splendid” Some have praised China’s efforts to keep the Games virus-free.
Some participants, however, claim to be living and training in deplorable circumstances, forcing them to petition organizers for changes.
After Swedish skier Frida Karlsson was spotted trembling and near to collapsing at the conclusion of the women’s 7.5km+7.5km skiathlon on Saturday, the Swedish delegation urged for cross-country skiing events to be scheduled earlier in the day to safeguard athletes from frigid conditions.
Competitions are prohibited by the International Ski Federation when temperatures drop below -20 degrees Celsius (-4F).
When Karlsson participated on Saturday, the temperature was -13 degrees Celsius, but Swedish team manager Anders Bystroem informed reporters that the temperature was closer to -31 degrees Celsius with the wind chill included in.
“We have the cold limits,” Mr Bystroem said on Sunday, “but I’m not sure if they also measure the wind effect.”
A handful of Covid-19 instances have been recorded during the Games, including athletes and team officials, with dissatisfaction mounting over the lack of clarity about Covid isolation restrictions.
China has gone to tremendous pains to keep the virus out, restricting international spectators and limiting broad public ticket sales. The media, athletes, and spectators are separated into “bubble areas” with the regulations stating that anybody entering these bubbles must be fully vaccinated or face a 21-day quarantine.
According to Chinese regulations, individuals who show symptoms will be sent to a designated hospital, while those who are asymptomatic will be kept in an isolation facility. Those who have been infected will be maintained in isolation until they test negative twice in 24 hours. They will then be released to rejoin the bubble.
Kim Meylemans, a Belgian skeleton racer, wrote a sad narrative on Instagram earlier this week, stating that she had been tossed from one isolation facility to another.
“We are not even sure I will ever be allowed to return to the [Olympic] village,” she stated in a video. “I’m not sure I can handle 14 more days and the Olympic competition while being in this isolation.”