NEW YORK — It's not 2022 just yet, but organizers of the New Year's Eve ball drop say they're ready.

"I love that moment when the ball is falling in 60 seconds, where everyone is counting down in unison," said Jeffry Straus, co-organizer of Times Square New Year's Eve. "All over the world, we all come together for that 60 seconds."

Ahead of the big event, organizers on Thursday gave a preview of the ball drop and all the safety protocols in place.

The ball sits high above Times Square — 22 floors to be exact. It's adorned with more than 2,000 sparking crystal panels and weighs nearly 12,000 pounds.

Organizers call the ball drop the longest running show on Broadway: revelers have gathered at the Crossroads of the World to ring in the new year since 1907.

"The tradition remains the same because some things in life are important," Straus said. "We love those traditions."

For the second year in a row, the celebration will be scaled back. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, some 60,000 people would watch in person. But last year, the pandemic made it a mostly virtual event. This year, the city will allow people on the street, but limit the number of spectators to 15,000.

"The pandemic has changed literally all of our lives over the last two-plus years, including this event," Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said at the preview press conference.

The NYPD says what has not changed is the need to keep people safe. Officials said there were currently no credible terrorist threats.

"Even though there are no current threats, we must keep in mind that New York City remains a target to foreign terrorist organizations and homegrown violent extremists," NYPD Chief of Intelligence Thomas Galati said. "They've targeted New York before and they're inspired to do it again. Because of that, we will be monitoring all of the threat streams with many of our federal partners."

Police checkpoints will stand next to check-in locations, where officials will inspect revelers for proof of vaccination status and distribute masks.

"This year, we are going to welcome visitors who are fully vaccinated, with masks, into Times Square," Times Square Alliance President Tom Harris said.

For those who want to be one of the 15,000 in person to watch the ball drop in Times Square, officials will not let them in until 3 p.m. The hope there is that less time standing near others will equal reduced possible exposure to the coronavirus.

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