The Beijing Winter Olympics will not allow international visitors to attend sporting events

International fans will be barred from attending Olympic events at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. 

The International Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday that it would be following the example of the Tokyo Summer Olympics this past year, excluding foreign spectators from attending in order to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19.

However, the IOC permitted China to sell tickets to residents of their country, as well as those residing in Hong Kong. 

"The IOC and [International Paralympic Committee] welcome the decision to allow for the sale of tickets to spectators residing in China's mainland," the international organization said in a statement. "This will facilitate the growth of winter sports in China by giving those spectators a first-hand Olympic and Paralympic experience of elite winter sports, as well as bringing a favorable atmosphere to the venues."

According to NPR, athletes will not be required to be vaccinated, but those who aren't will have to undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine upon arriving in Beijing, as well as undergo daily COVID testing.

The Winter Olympics will be hosted in Beijing from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20.