"Water Cube" gorgeous turn "Snow Flying" permanently retained (overseas stands)

Source: People's Daily Overseas Edition

A few days ago, Leopold, a 63-year-old veteran German snowmobile coach, saw a sight 80 kilometers northwest of Beijing that left him speechless. When the Yanqing National Bobsleigh Center was displayed in front of his eyes, he was simply "stunned" and exclaimed: "This track is absolutely extraordinary" and "the most impressive".

This 16-curve, nearly 1.9-kilometer-long track is like a Chinese dragon, winding through the Xiaohaituo Mountains. The height difference of the track is 127 meters, and the finish area resembles a small stadium. The spectator seats and the entire track are covered by awnings.

The 31-year-old German snowmobile runner Francesco Friedrich was as shocked by this "magnificent race" as his coach. Friedrich believes that playing here will be a special experience.

——According to the website of the German newspaper Le Monde on February 6

In beijing 2022, multiple venues for the 2008 Summer Olympics, such as the Water Cube and the Bird's Nest, came in handy again. Some sports-specific venues had to be built, and these new venues reflected the whimsy of Chinese engineers.

One of the architectural wonders is the Shougang Ski Jump, also known as the "Snow Flying Sky". It creates a specific slope according to the professional requirements of stunt skiing, resembling Cinderella's crystal shoes. The exterior color of the big jump platform is a gradient color, and the night lighting shows a colorful effect. After the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Shougang Ski Jump will also be permanently retained and will continue to be used as the standard venue for the Big Jump event.

— According to the website of Spain's "Asililn" newspaper on February 5

The Beijing Winter Olympics emphasized the effective use of the legacy of the 2008 Olympic Games, and many of the venues were converted from the Olympic venues of that year. The curling competition, which opened on the 2nd of this month, was held at the National Aquatics Center "Water Cube". This distinctive-looking building was once the swimming venue for the 2008 Olympic Games. The Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee took only about 20 days to transform the "Water Cube" into the "Ice Cube". The original pool has been transformed into an ice rink track, and the sound of curling slides and brush rubbing during the race can be clearly heard.

The "National Speed Skating Hall" was built in the Beijing Olympic Park, and there are 22 "ice ribbons" symbolizing 2022 on the outside. The ice making process of the National Speed Skating Hall uses zero greenhouse gas emission technology. The head of the venue said it was a "sustainable, future-proof" venue. The Chinese government wants to make these venues a new heritage, and has set a goal of using the Winter Olympics as an opportunity to bring 300 million people to ice and snow sports.

——According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun website reported on February 3

Since 2015, the number of standard skating rinks in China has increased by more than 300%. At the same time, China has added more than 200 new ski resorts, and the total number of ski resorts has exceeded 800.

During the epidemic, in view of China's strict prevention and control measures, people began to travel domestically. According to tourism statistics, the service industry that benefits the most is the ice and snow industry: in the 2021-2022 ice and snow season, the number of ice and snow leisure tourists in China is expected to exceed 300 million.

Winter sports have attracted a new generation of enthusiasts, to a certain extent, both the freshness of the new experience and the excitement of the sport itself. Industry insiders predict that even after the Winter Olympics, the number of skiers will not decrease.

— According to the Hindu newspaper website reported on February 6

(Compiled by Yan Yu, a reporter of this newspaper)

People's Daily Overseas Edition ( 2022-02-10 Edition 06)