Olympic quarantine for unvaccinated people

The requests to speak in the “Kimmich case” have long since become overwhelming. This is how you can definitely see the issue surrounding the German national player from FC Bayern Munich's refusal to be vaccinated. It has become an almost unstoppable story that also produces quite provocative opinions. Paul Breitner, for example, makes no secret of his anger. “With me,” said the former Bayern player, “he wouldn’t even be allowed to train with me.” And he added. “Neither do the others.” This refers to four other kickers in the current squad who are also not vaccinated. Now Kimmich and his brothers, who believe that for them personal freedom far outweighs the benefit for the common good, are still lucky. They play football and can therefore expect soft special regulations, which they take full advantage of. No medals without vaccination If they were, for example, tobogganers, skiers, biathletes, ice hockey players or ski jumpers: they would have to forego their so-called highlight of the season. Because at the Olympic Games in February next year in Beijing, or in the winter sports centers around 200 kilometers from the Chinese capital, there will be a clear announcement. Only those athletes who have been vaccinated twice with an approved vaccine in their country are allowed to compete for medals. And protection against Corona must have taken place two weeks before entering China. If these requirements are not met, you can still dream of the Olympics, but you have to accept a three-week quarantine, of course including various corona tests. And this is not a wellness holiday with a swimming pool, sauna infusions and star-rated cuisine. You are not allowed to leave the hotel room. For three weeks. After all, it was promised that three meals a day would be organized and international internet should be available. For computer games instead of sensible training sessions.

This photo shows the hall where the Olympic speed skating races will take place in Beijing. © APA/afp / WANG ZHAO

Such a forced stay would of course mean that any sporting preparation would be reduced to absurdity. Three weeks of just push-ups and sit-ups will destroy any hope of winning a medal, regardless of the sport. Basically, the threat of quarantine is nothing more than a quasi-imposed compulsory vaccination. The fact that such measures are even necessary to protect everyone's health is sad, because top athletes in particular should set a good example. As can be seen from the Olympic Corona rules, there are double standards. Football allows itself every freedom, allowing rows of unvaccinated athletes into the arena, while Olympic participants can and are only allowed to practice their sport if they follow the Corona rules without exception and observe the vaccination certificates. There is also a requirement to wear a mask and daily tests for everyone, including the trainers and many volunteers. The bubble is even tighter than in Tokyo The bubble will be even tighter than in Tokyo. Hotel, competition venue, hotel. There is no more variety. At least spectators are allowed, but only Chinese people. But this only applies to outdoor activities. In Beijing itself, as in Tokyo, there should be no spectators in the figure skating and ice hockey halls according to the current reading. The aim is to cushion the strict measures a little by giving all Olympians in Beijing the opportunity to stay until the end of the games. In Tokyo you had to travel home almost immediately after the end of your own competition. Now you could stay until the closing ceremony. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also recommends that the stay be as short as possible.

It is therefore no easy task for the associations of all participating countries to explain the procedure to everyone who wants to go to Beijing and, above all, to convince the anti-vaccination opponents in their own ranks, who still exist. At the Summer Games in Japan, around 17 percent of the 613 athletes from the USA said they were not vaccinated. This number will certainly change for Beijing. Especially because of the threat of quarantine. In addition, there is often the fact that due to the pandemic in some sports it was not possible to hold international test competitions at the competition venues, as is usually the case in the year before the Olympic Games. At least you can point to Tokyo. The previously feared corona outbreaks did not occur there, also due to the intensive testing and the lack of spectators. Nobody can say in advance whether this will also work for Beijing. But what is clear is a message that goes far beyond these Olympic Games. Only vaccination can put Corona in its place and give us all a bit of normality.

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Olympic quarantine for unvaccinated people

The Winter Olympics in Beijing will be held under even stricter Corona requirements than was the case in Tokyo. Our columnist Sigi Heinrich realized that hardly any athlete can avoid a vaccination.

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