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Sports

Zero-COVID kicks Xi's goal of hosting China World Cup out of play

Sporting bodies unable to entrust nation to host flagship events

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Paralympics on March 4.    © Reuters

SEOUL -- Beijing this year became the only world city to host both Olympics, but February's Winter Games looks set to be the last major international sporting event that China will stage for some time.

China's pursuit of zero-COVID means the capital and Shanghai are still to return to normality after strict lockdowns, and travel in and out of the country is restricted. Sport, inevitably, has taken a back seat.

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