Canadian team's doctor in Beijing says COVID-19 measures working so far

The Canadian team's head doctor in Beijing says COVID-19 prevention measures before and upon athletes' arrivals have kept the virus mostly at bay so far.

One asymptomatic non-athlete in Canada's delegation of about 415 was in isolation Wednesday, two days before the opening ceremonies, which was down from five personnel in protocol last week.

"Our goal is to enable the athletes and the teams to get to the starting line safely, and to try and enable every athlete that is here in Beijing to be able to compete through all these protocols," Dr. Mike Wilkinson said Wednesday at the Canadian Olympic Committee's opening news conference.

"We have challenges, yes, and challenges will continue."

When no Canadian athlete tested positive in last summer's Tokyo Olympics, the COC planned similar virus measures for Beijing. Then came the highly infectious Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

"We learned from Tokyo. We put the plans together. We ended up throwing most of that out of the window when Omicron came into Canada, and around the world," Wilkinson said. "We've had to adapt, and we will continue to adapt. However, all those learnings and the protocols we put in place are working.

"If prior to Tokyo you'd asked me, 'Would we get out of there without any cases of COVID?' I would have said, 'Not in my wildest dreams.' I think we have to be realistic about what's going on and the transmissibility and infectiousness of Omicron here."

Messing's Beijing participation in question

But COVID will keep at least one athlete out of an event. Figure skater Keegan Messing still needs to produce the requisite negative tests to be able to fly to Beijing.

He won't travel to China in time for the team event starting Friday, but Messing might still be able to compete in men's singles next week.

A number of contingency plans are in place for the 30-year-old figure skater to compete if cleared, including flying him into Beijing the night before the men's short program if necessary, said COC chief sport officer Eric Myles.

"We will take it to the maximum to bring him here," Myles said.

No other Canadian athletes were in danger of missing their event because of a positive test, Wilkinson said.

"What will happen over the next couple of days or weeks when we have more athletes coming in? I'm not sure," the doctor said. "What I tell you now is going to change in about half an hour. That's the nature of the pandemic."

Masks at all times

Myles said athletes have been discouraged from removing their masks to take selfies in the village.

"We did push a note to all the athletes about not taking pictures, recommending not taking pictures without a mask near the [Olympic] rings, for example," he said.

COC chief executive officer David Shoemaker had yet to arrive in Beijing because of a potential close contact a week and a half ago.

The COC encourages athletes based in Beijing's hub to march in Friday's opening ceremonies if their competition schedule allows for it.

Short-track speedskater Charles Hamelin of Sainte-Julie, Que., and women's hockey captain Marie-Philip Poulin of Beauceville, Que., were named joint flag-bearers Wednesday.

Hamelin is a three-time Olympic gold medallist and Poulin owns two gold medals.

Canada's team of 215 athletes features 45 who are already Olympic medallists, as well as 117 rookies. The athletes are divided between three competition hubs — Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou.

Canadians start competing the day before the opening ceremonies. Canadian curling mixed doubles duo John Morris and Rachel Homan open the preliminary round Thursday against Britain and Norway.

Poulin and her teammates take on Switzerland in a Pool A game Thursday when reigning Olympic men's champion Mikael Kingsbury leads the freestyle skiers into the moguls qualification round.

Speedskaters, long and short-track, and Kingsbury in men's moguls are Canada's strongest medal chances Saturday.

Canada totalled 29 medals (11 gold, eight silver and 10 bronze) four years ago in Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the most at a single Winter Olympics.

The global data analytics company Gracenote's most recent projections Wednesday forecast Canada tied for fourth with the United States with 22 medals (six gold, five silver and 11 bronze).

The California-based company, which supplies statistical analysis to sports leagues around the world, picked Norway to top the medal table again with 44 medals, including 21 gold.