BEIJING: The already limited Beijing Winter Olympics torch relay will be turned away from the general public due to COVID measures, organizers said on Friday.
The relay involving 1,200 torchbearers will take place at three sites at the Games and will also travel to tourist attractions such as the Great Wall from February 2 to 4, when the Olympics begin.
"Safety will always be a priority for this torch relay," said Yang Habin, the official of the sports organizing committee responsible for the torch relay.
"Keeping in mind the epidemic control ... torch relay and ceremonial activities will be organized in safe and controlled closed spaces."
Breaking tradition, there was no torch relay on Greek soil before the flames arrived in China due to COVID.
Last October, a flame-lighting ceremony in Greece was disrupted by human rights activists.
Beijing will next month host the world's most banned mass sporting event since the pandemic, requiring all participants to work in a "bubble" cut off from the outside world.
Organizers canceled public ticket sales this week after the Chinese capital reported its first domestic omicron outbreak.
Travel restrictions have been tightened in Beijing, requiring all visitors to provide recent negative test results, as China grapples with several nationwide outbreaks
China's foreign ministry said on Friday that Ahmed Shaheed, the UN special envoy for freedom of religion or belief, would participate in the torch relay and take part in the Games.
The run-up to the Games has been marred by a US-led diplomatic boycott over Beijing's human rights record, including abuses of the Uighur Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region.
Yang said the torch relay would be avoided on public roads "to avoid disruption to the lives and organization of local people and the conduct of the Games".