In Beijing, athletes are using social media to denounce their quarantine conditions. The organizing committee of the Olympic Games said Sunday that it took note of the complaints.
China has implemented many health measures to prevent the Olympics from causing an outbreak of COVID-19 in its population. Stricter than in Tokyo, the current rules require athletes to stand in a bubble and submit to a daily PCR test.
When the result is positive, the athletes are sent to a dedicated quarantine center and can only be released by receiving negative results or an opinion from a committee of medical experts.
In recent days, several complaints have been circulating on social networks, denouncing in particular rooms that are too small, and the poor quality of the food offered.
Morning noon and evening
“I have a stomach ache, I’m very pale and I have huge dark circles around my eyes. I want all of this to stop. I cry every day. I am very tired,” biathlete Valeria Vasnetsova posted on Instagram.
Placed in isolation as soon as she arrived in Beijing, the Russian athlete shared a photo of her meal tray this weekend. In a compartmentalized tray, she was served morning, noon and evening white pasta, a few potatoes, accompanied by a sauce and meager pieces of meat and fish.
Russian biathlete Valeria Vasnetsova posted a photo of one of the unappetizing meals at Beijing Games on Instagram, showing plain pasta, some potatoes, charred meat, and no vegetables.
She claims the same meal was served for “breakfast, lunch and dinner for five days already.” pic.twitter.com/T9rCF7tUbM
— Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) February 6, 2022
Shortly after it was posted on Instagram, a representative of the Russian Olympic Committee posted a photo showing that the quality of the food provided had improved. Valeria Vasnetsova was given salmon, pieces of cucumber and yogurt, among other things.
Mental health at stake
Tested positive for COVID-19 on her arrival, then negative several times, Belgian Kim Meylemans believed that she was finally heading to the Olympic village. She was instead taken to another hotel serving as an isolation center.
The athlete then appeared in tears in a video posted five days ago on Instagram. “I’m not sure I can endure this,” she commented, joining the testimonies of several athletes complaining about their state of mental health.
The pressure on social networks worked, since the authorities intervened to bring her into the village.
A spokesperson for the Beijing Games organizing committee also said athletes will be able to order their meal at the Olympic Village and have it delivered to their isolation room.
Two parallel worlds
The food available in the Olympic Village seems, indeed, to be of a completely different quality. Several videos are circulating on TikTok, showing the diversity of choices offered at the village canteen.
China achieves a feat that is more technological than culinary, serving meals without contact, using robots.
The organizing committee reported yesterday that 363 people had tested positive for COVID-19. This number includes athletes, media representatives and mission team members.
With Associated Press