It follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed in May for the companies to donate vaccines to participants at Tokyo 2020.

That has been extended to cover Beijing 2022, fulfilling a promise made in September by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach that they would support a vaccine programme for the Games. 

"We would like to thank Pfizer and BioNTech for this donation as we approach the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022," Bach said.

“This is another measure in our plan to stage safe Games for the athletes and all the participants and builds on our successful collaboration.”

Bach’s gratitude was echoed by International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons.

"The whole Paralympic Movement is extremely grateful to the IOC for its efforts securing donations of vaccines from Pfizer and BioNTech ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022," he said.

It will be mandatory for athletes and officials at Beijing 2022 to be fully vaccinated according to the requirements of their respective home countries at least 14 days prior to departure for China, in order to be allowed into the closed-loop system without quarantine.

Anyone not fully vaccinated will need to quarantine for 21 days upon arrival in Beijing.

Exceptions may be granted for athletes and team officials on a case-by-case basis, based on medical reasons.

Vaccine doses donated by Pfizer and BioNTech will not be taken out of existing vaccination programmes but will be in addition to existing quotas and planned deliveries around the world.

The Chinese Olympic Committee also offered to vaccinate Beijing 2022 teams before Tokyo 2020, with the IOC paying for the cost of each dose.

That was available only in territories which have approved the Chinese Sinovac vaccine for use.