In the middle of the Novak Djokovic soap opera, the affair takes on a certain dimension. At least one foreign athlete could be subject to a 21-day quarantine upon arrival in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Games. Swiss surfer Patrizia Kummer (pictured above), 34, Olympic parallel giant champion at the Winter Games Sochi in 2014, is not vaccinated against COVID-19. But unlike the world number 1 tennis player, she does not request any exemption.
Patrizia Kummer explains her choice to refuse the vaccine in simple words. “It’s a decision that I made in my soul and conscience for the good of my bodyshe says. I am ready to quarantine, knowing that I cannot change the rules."
As a reminder, the Chinese authorities require a complete vaccination course to enter the country without quarantine for the Beijing Winter Games. Otherwise, any accredited person will be subject to an isolation period of 21 days before being able to enter the health bubble.
The Swiss knows it. She says she is ready to accept the ordeal. But compliance with the health rules set out in both versions of the playbook published by the organizers turns out to be more complex than expected.
First obstacle: timing. The giant parallel snowboard event is scheduled for the first week of the Beijing Games, Tuesday February 8. Patrizia Kummer will have to fly to China no later than Sunday January 16, in order to have time to complete her 21 days of isolation before putting on her snowboard.
But, an additional difficulty, she must first obtain her final selection for the 2022 Winter Games. Failing to present a complete vaccination course, the Swiss was not authorized to participate in two stages of the World Cup, the giants of Carezza and Cortina d'Ampezzo, in Italy, played last December. He has only one competition left, the giant of Scuol, scheduled for Saturday in Switzerland, to earn points and validate his ticket for the Games.
Another difficulty: total vagueness on the isolation conditions provided by the Chinese for the very rare unvaccinated accredited ones. According to the site skiactu, the Swiss Ski Federation (Swiss-ski) and the national Olympic committee (Swiss Olympic) are working to obtain information, from the organizing committee and the IOC, on the level of the quarantine hotel and the nature details of the stay. But they have yet to receive any real answers.
A few days before an alleged departure for China, Patrizia Kummer does not know if the hotel chosen by the organizers will be equipped with a gym, and especially if she would use it. She does not know the size of her room . She does not have the slightest information on the quality of the meals that will be served to her.
"I'd rather not think about it“, the young woman abbreviates. In the meantime, Valaisanne is taking precautions not only to avoid being infected by the virus, but also to protect others. She explains that she observes a very strict lifestyle, respecting barrier gestures and social distancing. She admits to being tested every two days for several weeks.
Patrizia Kummer admitted it to skiactu : it will not change position. “I am not against the vaccine and I totally respect people who do it. But for my part, I felt that it was best for my body not to do it."
To date, she is the only potential Olympic selection, from all countries, known to go to the Beijing Games without being vaccinated. The only one, therefore, to prepare to live three weeks in isolation before starting her event. Unique and courageous.
