NBC's broadcasters will call the Winter Olympics remotely from Connecticut rather than in person in China. ESPN has bailed on sending even a single reporter citing a "very challenging" environment in Beijing.
Meanwhile, athletes, coaches and officials from around the world — unable to sit this out — are staring at the dwindling days until the Games begin and the rising reports of the Omicron variant in China and gulping with nerves.
It’s not catching COVID that has people worried.
It’s catching COVID in China.
The Chinese still say they can zero-case this pandemic via isolation and testing measures that assault the sensibilities of much of the rest of the world.