Behind the Transformation of "Water Cube" into "Ice Cube": Let the "Double Olympic" heritage continue to shine

The Beijing Winter Olympics continued, transforming from the "Water Cube" to the National Aquatics Center of the "Ice Cube", becoming an excellent stage for the world's curling players to compete at the top, and once again stunning the world after 2008. Yang Qiyong, deputy director and general manager of the logistics team of the National Aquatics Center venue operation team, walked into the press conference hall of the main media center of the Beijing Winter Olympics on the afternoon of the 10th and shared the story of "Ice Cube" in preparing for the Winter Olympics and the operation of the venues with Chinese and foreign reporters.

On February 10, Yang Qiyong (right), deputy director of logistics and general manager of the stadium operation team of the National Aquatics Center, shared the story of the preparation for the Winter Olympics and the operation of the venue at the main media center. People's Daily Photo by Ou Xingrong

As a "double Olympic" venue, "Ice Cube" is the largest curling venue in the history of the Winter Olympic Games, and the only "double Olympic" venue in the world to set up a curling track on the pool. Between the free conversion of water and ice, it embodies the high-quality development of architecture and technology, and also fully demonstrates the concept of sustainable development of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, and is a model for the combination of the green Olympics and the science and technology Olympics.

According to Yang Qiyong, during the preparation process for the Winter Olympics, the National Aquatics Center adopted the strategy of "water ice conversion" and built a movable and detachable ice rink on the original pool. "Curling in the 'Water Cube' is not for showmanship, but the concept of sustainability has played a leading role." Yang Qiyong said that compared with new venues, the transformation of existing venues can greatly reduce investment, and "water ice conversion" can achieve sustainable use of venues at a relatively small cost.

National Aquatics Center "Water Ice Conversion" short video. Provided by the National Aquatics Center Venue Operations Department

Yang Qiyong revealed the details of a transformation process: the number of athletes' changing rooms in the National Aquatics Center was insufficient, which was difficult to meet the needs of the Winter Olympic Games, but the new changing rooms were costly and crowded out the post-game operating space of the venue. To this end, the operation team decided to carry out a low-carbon and environmentally friendly functional modular transformation of the old container, and innovatively used the containerized athletes' dressing room. After the game, the container module can be removed without traces, restoring the operating space of the venue, and the withdrawn container module can also be used as a public service facility such as customer service consultation, rest and catering of the venue.

"As early as 2019, the National Aquatics Center won the 'Sports and Sustainable Construction' trophy issued by the International Olympic Committee, allowing the Beijing Winter Olympics to win a gold medal for sustainable use of Olympic venues after the Game." Yang Qiyong said that from the current game progress, this ice rink is running perfectly.

After the Beijing Winter Olympics, the National Aquatics Center will become a comprehensive ice project platform that integrates the holding of high-quality ice events, public ice fitness, and curling sports promotion. Yang Qiyong revealed that the future operation strategy is also basically determined, in November of each year, the pool will be converted into an ice rink for ice sports, and around March and April of the next year, it will be restored to a swimming pool for water sports. "In this way, the use of venues will become more full, so that the 'double Olympic' heritage will continue to shine."