2 Covid Cases During Beijing Games Warm-up Events

China reported on Friday the first Covid-19 cases among foreign athletes at preparatory events for the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Games, as stringent measures being put in place to control any outbreaks are put to the test.

Two lugers of the same nationality tested positive, said Huang Chun, an official of the Games organising committee.

Both have been transferred to quarantine hotels, he told a news briefing in the capital.

Beijing's vice mayor previously said the coronavirus would be one of the biggest challenges to the city's hosting of the Games. The Games will run from February 4 to 20, with all participants subject to daily Covid-19 tests, and no international spectators. Athletes and other Games-related personnel will also be enveloped in a "closed loop" bubble.

"We will still let the person take part in training and activities related to the Games, but (the individual) needs to go though strict health monitoring and Covid-19 testing every day," Huang said, referring to the first athlete who tested positive.

The individual will also stay in their room, eat and ride in vehicles alone, Huang told reporters.

The second case was a close contact of the first athlete, he said, without giving details on their nationality.

The announcement of the infections came on the heels of reports earlier this week of a crash by a Polish slider during a luge training session.

Polish slider Mateusz Sochowicz on Monday hit a closed barrier that should have been open on the Olympic track, leaving him with a fractured left kneecap and a cut to the bone on his right leg.

Additional safety measures were introduced at the Beijing Olympics Sliding Centre after the crash. (Reuters)