OREANDA-NEWS The appearance of «omicron» on the territory of China may seriously complicate the holding of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in February this year, Russian newspapper Kommersant reports. A new strain of coronavirus could have entered the country through diplomatic mail.

«Arrival at the opening of the Olympics of Russian President Vladimir Putin is being prepared in a really hard conditions. Our Chinese comrades, of course, show maximum attention to ensure sanitary safety. In this regard, additional requirements for sanitary safety are being born, which we are discussing together with our Chinese partners. As it will be further, in the remaining weeks before this trip, God willing, everything will go according to plan, at least we are preparing», said Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation.

Earlier it was reported that the organizers of the Beijing Olympics will punish athletes for political actions. Yang Shu, Deputy Director for International Relations of the Organizing Committee of the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, gave explanations about possible political actions during the upcoming Winter Games, which theoretically athletes can arrange. This week, various human rights organizations expressed concern about the safety of the Olympians if they exercise their right to publicly express their civic position from February 4 to 20. Six months ago, this was allowed in Tokyo. Now the official representative of the organizing committee says that «any performance contrary to the Olympic spirit or Chinese laws is subject to certain penalties».