SPORTS
IOC's Bach: Beijing starts now for all of us
Baku, January 7, AZERTAC
The chief of the International Olympic Committee has stressed that the Beijing Winter Games will be held as scheduled next month, with strict rules in place to prevent coronavirus infections, according to NHK WORLD-JAPAN.
IOC President Thomas Bach made consultation calls on Wednesday with representatives of athletes, national Olympic committees, Beijing organizers and others. The talks come as coronavirus cases surge in many countries.
The IOC quoted Bach as saying that "Beijing starts now for all of us."
He added, "We must do everything to ensure that the Olympic dreams of athletes are not taken away just days before departure."
IOC officials also said that "everything is on track" to stage safe Winter Games for all participants and the Chinese people.
They said "now is a critical time" for all participants in the Games to be extra vigilant, urging them to abide by the protocols laid out in the Playbooks to prevent infections.
The Beijing Olympics is scheduled for 17 days from February 4 to 20.