In this undated file photo, residents take part in an ice activity in Chaoyang district, Beijing. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Chaoyang district in Beijing is keeping an eye on operations of venues, supporting services and warmup activities to ensure the smooth running of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Chaoyang district is the place that both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will be held. It is also home to three competition venues and eight noncompetition venues
On June 26, the Olympic Village was officially unveiled and handed over to the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee. Eight days later, the Main Media Center, located in the Phase Two project of the China National Convention Center, which was the last and largest project in Beijing, was also delivered.
Behind these green sustainable buildings are more than 1,000 days and nights of hard work by Chaoyang, said a local official.
A batch of noncompetition venues located in Chaoyang such as the Olympic Family Hotel, Paralympic Family Hotel and the anti-doping tests center are speeding up their construction and renovation
The ice tracks at the National Speed Skating Oval, better known as the Ice Ribbon due to its exterior lighting beams, has gone through tests during the recently concluded Experience Beijing Speed Skating China Open.
These tracks were described by industry insiders as one of the world's fastest. They have adopted the world's most environmentally friendly cooling system that uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, which can save nearly 2 million kW of electricity more than the old technique per year, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 6,000 households in Beijing in one month.
The temperature difference on the ice surface is controlled to within 0.5 degrees, and the flatness and smoothness of the ice is well maintained no matter where athletes go.
The other two venues－the National Aquatics Center, once called the Water Cube during the Beijing 2008 Olympics and now known as the Ice Cube for the Winter Games, and the National Stadium, popularly known as the Bird's Nest, gear up for the big event too.
A batch of noncompetition venues located in Chaoyang such as the Olympic Family Hotel, Paralympic Family Hotel and the anti-doping tests center are speeding up their construction and renovation.
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On Oct 9, the second day of the Speed Skating China Open, the first international test event for the Beijing 2022, South Korean skater Kim Jun-ho was surprised to hear a birthday song played for him after finishing his race at the National Speed Skating Oval.
"This is the first time I have celebrated my birthday during a competition. I will never forget this moment," said Kim.
This surprise was prepared by the staff members with the Chaoyang branch of the Experience Beijing test event's organizing committee.
A staff member said that they have paid meticulous attention to details. For example, all the ingredients used in the birthday cake are good for athletes to eat, and the food eaten on birthdays is consistent with traditions in athlete's homes.
"The test events are well prepared, and this team has rich experiences of serving the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. I have confidence in the upcoming Winter Olympics," said Colin Grahamslaw, the secretary general of the World Curling Federation.
According to local officials, Chaoyang has organized more than 500 lectures on the Winter Olympics in various communities and villages, which have reached about 200,000 people
Despite the positive feedback Chaoyang has received, the district has made a task list with 25 specific problems exposed and measures to fix them immediately after the test events.
Long before, Chaoyang has set up a service guarantee center for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, with one command center and 12 supporting teams. The district has also formulated a detailed and operable healthcare and epidemic prevention work plan.
In addition, the district has launched numerous activities to kindle grassroot enthusiasm for ice and snow sports and seen fruitful results.
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According to local officials, Chaoyang has organized more than 500 lectures on the Winter Olympics in various communities and villages, which have reached about 200,000 people.
The district has hosted 65 games in communities, 65 events inviting residents to visit ice rinks and five events at ski resorts, attracting 1.02 million people to participate.
In recent years, more than 260 ice and snow events above the city level were held in Chaoyang, which ignited people's passion for ice and snow sports, a local official said, adding that a total of 12 ice and snow sports teams were organized in Chaoyang.
More than 80,000 students from 100 primary schools in the district were given the chance to skate at the real ice rink.
Zhang Dingyue, a 17-year-old skier, successfully got enrolled in the national alpine skiing team, who was the first ice and snow sports talent sent by Chaoyang to the national team.
