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SCIO press conference on pandemic prevention policies and relevant preparations for Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

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Xinhua News Agency:

The Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will involve three competition zones and 19 venues spread out over various locations. My question is, how will you guarantee medical treatment? Thank you.

Li Ang:

Thank you for your question. As we all know, medical treatment is a key part of the service guarantee for the Games. In accordance with the requirements outlined in the Beijing 2022 Playbooks and the FIS Medical Guideline, Beijing will follow a designated, secure and effective approach to implement its supporting services, so as to host a streamlined, safe and splendid Olympic Games. We have focused on the following four aspects:

First, we have improved resource allocation of medical treatment. We have set up three kinds of medical stations throughout the competition venue: fixed medical stations, competition field medical stations, and medical stations for spectators. There are 88 medical stations in total at competition areas in Beijing, which will provide on-site medical treatment and triage and transfer sick and injured people. A total of 1,140 key medical personnel from 17 designated hospitals and two pre-hospital first-aid institutions have been assembled to serve as medical support personnel for the venue, with a backup of 457 hospital-level experts. In addition, 120 medical personnel from 12 tertiary hospitals were selected to form a municipal-level backup, equipped with 74 ambulances near the stadiums, 54 of which are negative pressure ambulances. In accordance with epidemic prevention and control requirements during the Winter Olympics, the BOCOG classified Olympics-related patients into five categories: confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients, patients with fever in the closed loop, other patients in the closed loop, patients with fever outside the closed loop, and other patients outside the closed loop. We have adjusted and optimized treatment in different designated hospitals. Eighteen designated hospitals will treat patients in specific categories to avoid overlapping routes of patients with different risks. After the competition starts, 1,188 medical staff and 840 hospital experts will be dispatched from designated hospitals to provide timely and efficient medical services. Meanwhile, 60 municipal-level experts and 10 academicians will provide high-level technical support. As you can see, we have made full preparations in terms of manpower.

Second, according to stadium conditions and hospital characteristics, we have developed differential and targeted schemes for medical security. Medical staff, including orthopedics, stomatology, and other disciplines, will treat patients injured in different sports. For example, the ice hockey stadium is equipped with CT, dental chairs, and other relative equipment. We have carried out targeted first-aid exercises for different venues. In order to give full play to the advantages of professional disciplines, designated hospitals developed targeted medical security schemes to improve medical treatment capabilities. Yanqing Hospital of Peking University Third Hospital has transformed a 12,000-square-meter independent inpatient building into the Winter Olympics Medical Center, equipped with 72 beds, CT and MRI equipment, operating rooms, nucleic acid sampling booths, and a fever clinic. Beijing Anzhen Hospital set up a special area for the Olympics-related patients. Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, and Bejing Shijitan Hospital have adjusted their hospital layout, set up special wards, been equipped with special CT and MRI equipment, and established negative pressure hybrid operating rooms, which will provide a strong guarantee for suitable medical treatment during the Winter Olympics.

Third, we have accelerated the construction of polyclinics in Winter Olympic villages. A 1,500-square-meter polyclinic in Beijing Winter Olympic Village and a 1,658-square-meter polyclinic in Yanqing Winter Olympic Village have been built, including 18 disciplines such as emergency treatment, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, imaging, TCM, and dentistry, which will meet the needs of basic outpatient service for 16 hours a day and emergency treatment for 24 hours after the competitions begin. At present, medical equipment testing of the polyclinic in Beijing Winter Olympic Village has been completed, and the medical equipment of CT, MRI, and DR Fangcang of the polyclinic in Yanqing Winter Olympic Village have been debugged in place, which will ensure orderly medical treatment, including outpatient service, emergency treatment, and rehabilitation transfer during the competition.

Forth, we have strengthened training, exercises, and blood supplies. Based on the principle of full training and internal-external integration, we have increased training of medical personnel in the knowledge of Winter Olympics, English, and skiing skills. Forty ski doctors have reached the international rescue level, and 1,900 medical support staff have acquired basic first-aid capability. Beijing Red Cross Blood Center has established a special blood allocation mechanism during the competition, with reserves of Rh-negative blood maintaining at 1,800 to 2,000 units.

In a word, Beijing will coordinate its medical resources to guarantee medical treatment for the Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics, and provide high-quality and efficient medical treatment for athletes and friends from all over the world. Thank you.

Han Zirong:

We can see from Mr. Li's introduction that medical services for the Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics are ready. Due to the characteristics of Winter Olympics and winter sports, the probability of injury is high for both athletes and staff. Medical rescue in international competitions has strict operating procedures. In the case of emergency rescue, there may be queries about why a rescue was slow. In fact, during the competition, medical assistance has to follow procedures in light of international standards. For example, when an athlete falls, team doctors have to decide whether the athlete should be transferred for further treatment or receive on-site treatment. Emergency personnel can only transfer the athlete after team doctors have finished their on-site judgment. Especially in the case of injuries, the first thing we have to do is stop the game so as to prevent secondary injuries. We hope that friends from the media can pay more attention to the medical rescue procedures of such international competitions. Our medical rescue teams will certainly carry out emergency treatments in accordance with the rules and procedures of international competitions to guarantee suitable medical treatment at the Winter Olympics.