What Do China's Zero-COVID Policies Mean for Olympic Athletes?
Ask Students: Where are the Olympics being held this year? Who has criticized China’s approach in keeping COVID from spreading at the Olympics?
Summary
The Beijing Winter Olympics officially began Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. The Games are usually a celebration of sport and co-existence, but this year, the U.S. and some allied governments are boycotting diplomatically and accusing China of human rights abuses. Nick Schifrin reports on an Olympics in the era of COVID and how measures designed to keep athletes safe are also silencing Beijing’s critics. The first part of the video focuses on Olympic athletes’ experiences with COVID restrictions. The second half focuses on how some Chinese feel about the harsh restrictions.
Discussion Questions
- Where are the Olympics being held this year?
- Who has criticized China’s approach in keeping COVID from spreading at the Olympics, according to this piece?
- What are some of the strategies China has used to keep COVID from spreading even before the Olympics?
- How has China adapted its zero COVID policies for the Olympics?
- Why do Chinese officials argue their policies are appropriate, according to this piece?
Focus Questions
- Do you think zero COVID is a practical policy for the U.S. to strive for? Why or why not?
- Do you think complaints and protests by U.S. citizens are justified given what you know about China’s COVID restrictions?
- Media literacy: Why do you think the producers chose this story to tell about the Olympics currently underway in China?
Additional Resources
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Extra.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories.
