The Beijing 2022 Organising Committee have announced the cancellation of scheduled test events this northern season for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The IOC and IPC along with the IFS will now develop an adapted sports testing program in preparation for the 2022 games.
Alpine skiing, speed skating, figure skating, ski jumping and Nordic combined were all scheduled for test events during the 2020/2021 World Cup circuit.
However many athletes are unable to travel to China. The current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting many parts of the world means that travel restrictions are currently in place, and the travel situation is likely to remain complex for the coming months in which the Beijing 2022 test events were scheduled.
“It was necessary to take an immediate joint decision on a tailored programme based on the needs of each individual IF” revealed the official statement.
“This concept of adapted sports testing is fully in line with the spirit of Olympic Agenda 2020 and its New Norm. It is already being applied in Tokyo for its test events. With the Beijing competition venues all scheduled for completion by the end of 2020, and the successful pre-homologation of the Yanqing Sliding Centre and IF venue visits last week, it was felt that the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 are well on track, and that adapted testing will reduce the complexity of this season for all involved, including the athletes. Beijing 2022 will now enter into discussions with each IF to determine the details of the adapted testing programme, in liaison with the IOC and IPC.”
Testing of the venues is a requirement for approved use at the Games so that athletes can rest assured that the venues in 2022 will be of the highest possible standard and in the safest and securest environment.
The changes now mean that many Winter Olympic athletes will only see the Beijing competition venues for the first time at the actual Olympics in 2022, rather than prior.
