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Dutch Olympians warned about China spying

AAPReuters
Dutch athletes have been warned not to take personal devices to China to avoid being spied upon.
Camera IconDutch athletes have been warned not to take personal devices to China to avoid being spied upon. Credit: EPA

Dutch athletes competing in next month's Beijing Winter Olympics will need to leave their phones and laptops at home in an unprecedented move to avoid Chinese espionage, Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant has reported.

The urgent advice to athletes and supporting staff to not bring any personal devices to China was part of a set of measures proposed by the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOCNSF) to deal with any possible interference by Chinese state agents, the paper said on Tuesday citing sources close to the matter.

NOCNSF spokesman Geert Slot said cybersecurity was part of the risk assessment made for the trip to China, but declined to comment on any specific measure.

"The importance of cybersecurity of course has grown over the years", Slot said. "But China has completely closed off its internet, which makes it a specific case."

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Dutch team members will be equipped with unused devices in China, to protect their personal data from Chinese surveillance, the report said.

At least 30 Dutch athletes are set to compete in next month's Beijing Olympics, mainly in the speed and short track skating events.

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Meanwhile Swiss Olympic snowboard champion Patrizia Kummer will head to the Games early to spend three weeks in quarantine because she isn't vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Chinese authorities require unvaccinated Olympians to enter quarantine upon arrival if they don't have a valid medical exemption

"After my personal decision not to be vaccinated, quarantine is the logical consequence," Kummer said in a statement issued by Swiss Ski.

With AP

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