Winter Olympics hit by deluge of complaints from athletes
Athletes have been hitting out at Olympic organisers, with complaints about freezing conditions and quarantine rules pouring in.
Beijing kicked off the Winter Games four days ago, promising it would be "streamlined, safe and splendid".
Some have lauded China's efforts to ensure a relatively virus-free Games.
But some participants say they are living and training in dismal conditions, prompting them to lobby organisers for improvements.
The Swedish delegation called for cross-country skiing events to be held earlier in the day to protect athletes from freezing temperatures - after Swedish athlete Frida Karlsson was seen shaking and close to collapse at the end of her women's 7.5km+7.5km skiathlon on Saturday.
Under the International Ski Federation rules, competitions are not allowed to take place when temperatures dive below -20C (-4F).
Temperatures measured -13C when Karlsson competed on Saturday, but Swedish team boss Anders Bystroem told reporters that temperatures were closer to -31C with wind chill taken into consideration.
"We have the cold limits, but I do not know if they also measure the wind effect," Mr Bystroem told Reuters news agency on Sunday.
A handful of Covid-19 cases - including athletes and team officials - have been reported at the Games, with frustration bubbling over the confusion surrounding Covid isolation rules.
China has gone to great lengths to keep the virus out - barring foreign spectators and prohibiting tickets from being sold to the general public. Media, athletes, and observers are being kept in distinct "bubble areas", with the rules saying anyone entering these bubbles must be fully vaccinated or spend 21 days in quarantine.
(Adapted from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60298184)
Which option replaces to word “dismal” in the phrase “But some participants say they are living and training in dismal conditions…”, according to its meaning in the text?