Bach: Beijing safest place on earth during Games in pandemic

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach feels that Beijing is the safest place on earth. The ‘super bubble’ that China and the IOC have created for all participants in the Olympic Games appears to work particularly well during the corona pandemic, according to Bach.

“With an infection rate of 0.01, this closed ‘bubble’ is a great success. Beijing is one of the safest places on earth, if not the safest,” Bach said at a press conference. “That is a great achievement. We can all feel safe and comfortable here. That is also a message to the world: if you respect the rules and show solidarity with each other, then during a pandemic you can even organize such a big event as hold the Winter Games.”

Of the more than 67,000 corona tests that were carried out on Thursday among all participants in the Games, one yielded a positive result. A day earlier, for the first time during these Games, the IOC could report a day with only negative results. Since January 23, more than 1.66 million corona tests have been carried out in the closed ‘bubble’. Of these, 436 were positive.

Bach did not yet want to give a grade to the Beijing Games. “We still have 2.5 days to go. On Sunday evening at the closing ceremony, we will announce our verdict on these Games. But it is clear that we are very satisfied and that the athletes are especially happy.”