Digital Chinese currency makes muted Games debut

ZHANGJIAKOU, Hebei: China's aim to make an Olympic splash with its digital currency, thwarted by a COVID-19-induced decision to exclude foreign spectators, has been taken up instead by a captive audience of locals unable to use their usual digital payment apps.

Only three forms of payment are available at Olympic venues: China's yuan currency, its digital version known as e-CNY, and Visa, whose cards are not widely used in China.

Tencent's WeChat Pay and Alibaba's Alipay, which dominate cashless payments in China, are generally not accepted inside the "closed loop" separating competitors and personnel from the public. No tickets were sold for the Games, meaning that crowds at events are small.

"I had heard of the digital yuan before, but I didn't plan to use it until I was in the loop," said Li Hongyan, a 20-year-old student volunteer who said that she only brought her phone, not realising that she wouldn't be able to use her normal payment apps.

While Li is typical among Chinese participants, foreigners at the Games - the first from outside the country to use the new digital yuan - seem largely unaware of it.

A number of servers at food and drink stands said that while Chinese customers were mostly using e-CNY for purchases, foreigners mainly use cash or Visa, whose Olympic sponsorship gives it exclusive international payment rights.

During one 30-minute period, 11 customers visited a coffee shop at Genting Snow Park, where snowboard and freestyle skiing events have taken place. The three Chinese customers paid using digital yuan apps to buy drinks and snacks, while one foreigner used cash and the other foreigners paid with Visa.

Foreign visitors polled informally inside the Games loop generally said that they had not noticed