Home>>
Countdown to Beijing 2022 | Beijing 2022 preparations in full swing(Xinhua) 09:33, April 11, 2021
Skaters compete during the speed skating test program at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2021. A 10-day ice sports test program for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is held from April 1 to 10. This test program is to give a test to competition organization, venue operation, and services and safeguarding. It engages all ice sports of Beijing 2022, namely short track speed skating, speed skating, figure skating, ice hockey, curling, para ice hockey and wheelchair curling. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
By sportswriters Dong Yixing and Wang Haoyu
BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- With 300 days to go until the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, the "Experience Beijing" testing program has come to a delightful end.
From the fluttering snowflakes in Zhangjiakou and Yanqing competition zones in February to the crystal ice surfaces in the five venues in downtown Beijing in April, the mission has been accomplished ahead of Beijing 2022.
TESTING BY THE OLYMPIC STANDARD
Testing and analyzing all possible scenarios by the Olympic standard is the fundamental principle of the "Experience Beijing" testing program.
As the oldest of all five Olympic venues in Beijing, the Capital Gymnasium is the only venue that has to switch between two sports in the middle of a day, namely figure skating and short speed skating.
Fulfilling seven conversions in six days, staff members at the Capital Gymnasium faced challenges of completing the conversion work including protective pads, camera stands, temporary structures, ice making within two hours and are now able to deliver in an orderly and timely manner.
The National Indoor Stadium and the National Aquatics Center, which will host the Paralympic ice hockey and wheelchair curling events respectively, were also upgraded from Olympic venues to accommodating Para athletes with accessibility facilities and traffic flow, such as accessible ramps, accessible seating, accessible counters, and an assistive device maintenance center.
"We did a lot of testing based on the Olympic schedule," said Yan Cheng, head of human resources of Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG).
"For the ice events in particular, we managed conversions on the ice, and the transitions between Olympics and Paralympics, testing all the facilities and adjusting team collaboration, which is very important and beneficial for our entire team."
According to Yang Jinkui, head of the Paralympic Department of BOCOG, the accessible traffic flow was designed based on the needs of Paralympic events, allowing the drop-off area as close to the venue as possible, and the restrooms and locker rooms as close to the field of play as possible to provide the greatest convenience for the Para athletes, with preparation works and logistical support in place.
Don Moffatt, chief ice maker for ice hockey, admitted that he was a little bit scared before the testing program because he didn't know about the ice makers and ice resurfacer drivers here in China but he is now "very impressed with all of the people."
"There's some very good knowledge and good experience," Moffatt gave a thumbs-up for local staff. "And for me, the most fun is working with people that want to learn and get better. So I get to do that. But I also get to share my experiences."
While aiming at an Olympic standard on ice making, Beijing 2022 is also looking to go above and beyond.
The National Speed Skating Oval, locally known as the "Ice Ribbon," is the first speed skating oval to use carbon dioxide transcritical ice making technology, with the ultimate goal to create the "fastest ice at sea level."
"I don't see any reason why this can't be one of the fastest ovals in the world," said Canadian ice maker Mark Peter Messer. "We just need to find the right parameters to make that happen."
"Ice events have a high standard for the quality of ice," said Yao Hui, head of Venue Management of BOCOG. "Our team is capable of ensuring the top quality of the ice surface from details, including the indoor temperature, humidity, ice temperature and water quality."
The venues in Zhangjiakou and Yanqing competition zones were also recognized by all parties during the testing program in February. "Yanqing Sliding Center is the greatest venue from different perspectives where I have been and worked at. There are a lot of advantages here," Normunds Kotans, a former Latvian bobsledder who has become an expert for the Olympics, commended.
A BOOST FROM TECHNOLOGY
Hosting an Olympics of high quality won't be possible without a boost from new technologies, which have ushered in a new era of intelligence for the Olympics.
As spectators walk into the Wukesong Sports Center, they are not only able to watch an ice hockey game, but also experience the extra excitement and convenience that technology can bring.
