Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin has announced that all the country’s pre-Games training bases will be closed off from the outside world to mitigate the risk of athletes catching COVID-19 before the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The Swedish cross-country skiing team have been forced to relocate a pre-Winter Olympic Games high-altitude training camp due to COVID-19 concerns.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said it is working to adjust the strict travel COVID-19 protocols in place for Beijing 2022 to give coronavirus-hit athletes a greater chance of reaching next month’s Winter Olympics.

Organisers of the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit remain optimistic of avoiding a third postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic has been drawn to play at the Australian Open despite uncertainty over his participation, while capacity has been capped at 50 per cent due to rising COVID-19 cases.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reinforced its confidence in the system designed to shut out COVID-19 during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics amid concerns over recent outbreaks in China - but a decision over any spectator presence has yet to be made.

More than 20 Olympic and Paralympic athletes have featured in a video released today calling on world leaders to ensure fair and equal access to coronavirus vaccines.

Canada’s Para Nordic skiing team is set to skip upcoming international competitions in a bid to reduce the chances of catching COVID-19 prior to the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics.

Double Olympic biathlon champion Anatoly Alyabyev has died at the age of 70 after losing his battle with coronavirus.

Chinese citizens have been warned to steer clear of vehicles used to transport those involved in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics - even in the event of a road accident.

Mass testing has begun in Tianjin in China amid concerns over an outbreak of COVID-19 prior to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Alysa Liu has been named in the United States' figure skating team for next month’s Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, despite being forced out of the National Championships following a positive test for coronavirus.

Athletes poised to represent Japan at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics could be given booster COVID-19 vaccines before travelling to the Chinese capital.

A happy and prosperous New Year? Well, let's hope so but COVID continues to wage war relentlessly on our fun and games.