National Games is an important sporting event in China every four years, and for athletes in some disciplines, the competition can be more rigid than the Olympics. The National Games often sees Olympic champions losing to athletes who may have lost out because of a bad day during qualifiers for the Olympics. (https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3150145/why-chinas-national-games-are-tougher-olympics-table-tennis)

At this year's National Games, the organizers were on tenterhooks than the athletes, as it was seen as a litmus test for next year's Beijing Winter Olympics. Held under the shadow of Covid-19, the challenge was to hold Covid-free games. When the games concluded on September 27 at the Xi'an Olympic Sports Center in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the organizers had pulled off Covid-free games following tougher rules than the just-concluded Tokyo Olympics. (https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202109/1233894.shtml?id=11)

From the learnings of the National Games, the International Olympic Committee has announced restrictions for the 'Beijing 2022' that are far tougher than during the Tokyo Olympics. The measures include a 21-day quarantine for not fully vaccinated athletes, officials and workers, daily testing for the fully vaccinated, and no entry for international fans.

Going by the protocol followed during the Shaanxi National Games, athletes, officials, and media persons arriving in Beijing from around the world would be guided by staff through separate 'channels' and then moved to buses designated for different venues. "Site-to-site" transportation would follow what organizers call a "closed-loop." (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/09/08/olympics/winter-olympics/china-national-games-coronavirus-precautions/)
Mobile phone apps would track each person's COVID-19 test results, body temperature etc and only when a QR code turns green would they be allowed to enter the venues. (https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202109/1234261.shtml)

But as opposed to Tokyo, where no spectators were allowed inside the venues, Chinese residents can attend the Games at various venues. For China, Beijing Olympics is just another opportunity for soft power projection after facing international criticism for Covid-19. And it will also try its best to show that it can organize the games better than its rival Japan.

Read more:

Beijing Olympics and rules for athletes:
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/29/beijing-olympics-to-ban-foreign-spectators-implement-covid-vaccination-protocols.html


"Beijing 2022 has the chance of achieving COVID-free Games after Tokyo 2020 success":
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1113738/beijing-2022-covid-tokyo-2020-olympics