Photo taken on Nov. 13, 2020, shows stewardesses along the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed
railway in new uniforms for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. (Photo
by Sun Lijun/People’s Daily Online)
Preparations for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, which are scheduled to arrive in
less than 100 days, have entered a critical stage characterized by high gear, general readiness
and decisive homestretch.
Venues and facilities for the event have not only been constructed, but will be optimized for
better services; the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and industry
upgrading have witnessed new drivers and marched onto a fast lane because of the Winter
Olympics; and people look forward to and are more than willing to be a part of the sports
event—all indicating that China’s dream of hosting a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent
Winter Olympics is gradually turning into a reality.
All 12 competition venues for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games full
of technological innovations are basically prepared, and operation teams of the venues have
already switched to a work mode for the grand sports event.
The construction and improvement of non-competition venues is gathering pace, with the
three Olympic Villages neatly designed. Besides, the renovation of venues for the opening
and closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2022 will soon be completed.
The Beijing, Yanqing, and Zhangjiakou competition zones of the Beijing 2022 are all ready to
welcome athletes from across the world with open arms.
One of the highlights of the venues for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is
their pursuit of green and sustainable development.
All venues will be powered by green electricity, and ice-making technology with nearly zero
carbon emissions has been adopted. Meanwhile, Beijing has done its utmost to reuse the
venues and facilities for the 2008 Summer Olympics, including innovatively changing the
former Water Cube, an aquatics competition venue in 2008, into a winter sports venue now
known as the Ice Cube.
The Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway, with a top speed of 350 kph, has made it
possible to travel from Beijing to Zhangjiakou within one hour; and the Yanqing-Chongli
expressway that stretches among green mountains and lucid waters has connected the
Yanqing and Zhangjiakou competition zones.
An improving inter-city transportation network and joint prevention and governance of the
ecological environment of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei will not only improve the quality of the
Winter Olympics, but will fuel the coordinated development of the three regions.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), believed that the
2022 Olympic Winter Games was “placed in safe hands” when Beijing won the bid in 2015.
With strong determination and confidence, China intends to show the world that it is a
country true to its words. “We are confident in the success of the Beijing Winter Olympics,”
Bach said recently ahead of the 100-day countdown for the opening of the event.
From Oct. 5 to the end of December, a series of test events, including 10 international
competitions, three international training weeks, and two domestic testing activities, have
been held or will be held at eight competition venues at the Beijing, Yanqing, and
Zhangjiakou competition zones, which involve over 2,000 overseas athletes, team officials
and other personnel.
From closed-loop management throughout the whole process for epidemic prevention and
control to an operation standard the same as that for the 2022 Winter Olympics, the test
events that aim to trial the venues from different aspects will lay a solid underpinning for the
safe and smooth hosting of Beijing 2022 as scheduled.
The IOC has received “unanimously positive” feedback from athletes in the Beijing 2022 test
series, according to IOC sports director Kit McConnell.
The venues they were experiencing in Beijing are absolutely outstanding, noted McConnell.
“There is a lot of excitement from them, not only regarding the participation at these events
but looking forward to their participation in Beijing in just a few months. It is great to see
their feedback both on the technical side and their personal excitement,” he said.
Although the venues and facilities have received positive feedback, the Beijing Organising
Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games has strived for further
improvement.
According to an executive with the committee, by closing existing loopholes and spotting and
strengthening weaknesses, teams are accumulating experience to ensure that they will deliver
their best performance in Beijing 2022.
On Oct. 25, the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Beijing
Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games published the
first editions of the Beijing 2022 playbooks, which, based on extensive discussions and full
consultation among parties involved, will provide participants with instructions on ensuring
safety amid the pandemic so as to be well equipped for taking part in the sports event in
China.
Independent innovations are widely seen during the organization of the 2022 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games.
More and more snowmakers and snowcats used in snow packs are made by Chinese
companies; nearly 20 ice and snow equipment parks are under construction or planned to be
built across China; and winter sports athletes are able to perfect their technical details with
home-made wind tunnels. By leveraging the opportunities provided by the Beijing 2022,
China has established a “coordinate system” for the development of ice and snow industry.
While integrating the preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games into urban
development, ecological construction and pursuing people’s well-being, the grand sports
event is increasingly showing its influence that radiates to many fields.
The Olympic effect can contribute to the host city in 20 years and even more, and promote the
benign interaction between the Olympic Games and the host city, according to Christopher
Dolby, executive director of the Olympic Department of the IOC, who believes that Beijing
has successfully brought out the Olympic effect.
