Some athletes at the Winter Olympics in China complained to the organizers, primarily because of the extremely cold conditions of the competition and the strict quarantine rules introduced to prevent the spread of the corona virus.
The Winter Olympics in Beijing started four days ago, and the organizers promised that everything will be "safe and great".
Some have praised China's efforts to organize and secure the Games amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But some participants say they live and train in poor conditions, prompting them to lobby organizers for improvements.
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The Swedish delegation is asking for the Nordic skiing competitions to be held earlier in the day to protect the athletes from the cold temperatures.
The request came as Sweden's Frida Karlsson was shaking from the cold and on the verge of collapsing at the end of the 7,5km+7,5km skiathlon race on Saturday.
According to the rules of the International Ski Federation, competitions are not allowed when temperatures fall below -20 degrees Celsius.
When the women's skiathlon competition took place, the officially measured temperature was -13 degrees, but Swedish team boss Anders Bystrom told reporters that temperatures were as low as -31, given the wind chill.
"There is a certain limit for holding competitions in low temperatures, but I don't know if they measure the effect of the wind," he told the Reuters news agency Bistro on Sunday.
"I'm not sure I can handle this"
So far, several cases of the corona virus have been reported among athletes and team officials at the Games, and many are frustrated by the strict measures and confusion surrounding isolation rules.
China has done everything to prevent the spread of the virus - it has banned the arrival of spectators from abroad, and tickets for watching the event are not on sale.
Athletes, delegation officials, journalists are in special "balloons" to prevent contact with the local population, and the rules say that anyone who enters those bubbles must be fully vaccinated or spend 21 days in quarantine.
Chinese rules stipulate that those with symptoms must be admitted to a designated hospital, while those without symptoms remain in isolation.
Those infected will be kept in isolation until they test negative twice within 24 hours. After that, they will be released to be in the bubble again.
Earlier last week, Belgian runner Kim Milemans tearfully posted a video on her Instagram profile showing her being moved from one isolation ward to another.
"I'm not even sure I'll even be allowed back into the [Olympic] Village," she said in the video.
"I'm not sure I can handle another 14 days in isolation and prepare for the competition," she added.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZeObbHBCnR/
The International Olympic Committee then stated in a statement that she will be given a room in the Olympic Village and that it is ready to support her.
Polish speed skater Natalija Maliszewska also stated that she was unexpectedly released from quarantine the night before the qualifying race, only to be returned to isolation a few hours before the competition, after a positive test.
"I don't believe in anything anymore. Not even in tests. No games. For me, this is all a big joke," she wrote on Twitter in Polish.
Russian biathlon competitor Valeria Vasnetsova was dissatisfied with the food in isolation, posting on Instagram: "For five days this has been breakfast, lunch and dinner."
Her profile is private, that is, locked, but the picture of the meal - some pasta, potatoes and a toasted piece of meat with the bone - was shared by some on social networks.
The BBC could not confirm these claims.
Russian athlete Valeria Vasnetsova posted this photo on Instagram. She says that the same meal has been served at the Winter Olympics in Beijing for "breakfast, lunch, and dinner for five days already." pic.twitter.com/AspgWEqutb
- Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) February 7, 2022
Speaking to reporters on Monday, International Olympic Committee (IOC) sports director Keith McConnell said the athletes' isolation conditions were a top priority and that they were "taking steps to address some challenging individual cases".
Meanwhile, others praised China's determined efforts to ensure the games are virus-free - beds and rooms are regularly deep-cleaned, disinfectants are used, and kitchens are staffed with robots preparing and distributing food.
Watch the video: Five things you need to know about the Winter Olympics in China
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