As a "warm home" for athletes during the Winter Paralympic Games, the Winter Paralympic Village provides services to athletes and accompanying officers 24 hours a day. Shen Qianfan, director of the Olympic Village Department of the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee, introduced that during the event, the Winter Paralympic Village started from the details, made careful arrangements and designs in landscape layout, apartment facilities, catering services, sports and leisure, etc., and at the same time, various barrier-free facilities in food, housing and transportation also took care of everyone's special needs.
On March 10, Shen Qianfan, director of the Olympic Village Department of the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee and director of the operation team of the Beijing Winter Olympic Village (Winter Paralympic Village), spoke at a press conference.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Ren Chao photographed
Athletes' Apartments: Heart-warming details can be found everywhere
Walking into the athletes' apartment, heart-warming details can be seen everywhere, highlighting the temperature of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games everywhere. For example, all the doors here are one-arm operable sliding doors; the bathroom is equipped with handrails and shower stools; the power sockets, switch panels, and call buttons in the room are all reduced in height; in the bedroom, the foot of the bed is lowered by 10 centimeters compared to the Winter Olympics, making it easier for wheelchair athletes to get on and off the bed; anti-slip materials are used in the corridor and indoor floor...
On Feb. 28, staff demonstrated accessible vehicles at the National Alpine Ski Center. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fei
The "ice pier" pillow, which was previously popular with athletes, has been replaced by a cute "Snow Rongrong" pillow: on one side is the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games emblem leap, on the other side is the Beijing Winter Paralympic Mascot "Snow Rongrong", which is opened and a small quilt is printed with sports icons of the Winter Paralympic Games. After the competition, the athletes can also take this pillow away as a souvenir.
Athletes' Catering: Specialties to welcome guests from all over the world
In terms of athletes' catering, the Winter Paralympic Village is committed to a rich menu that is both nutritious and delicious. Shen Qianfan introduced that the restaurant in the village has set up 12 kinds of tables such as world tables, Asian tables, Chinese tables, halal tables, etc., with healthy cooking methods, good color and fragrance. "On the basis of ensuring food safety, we strive to meet the eating habits and needs of athletes in different countries and regions. For example, during the Winter Olympics, roast duck is very popular with everyone, so during the Winter Paralympic Games, we continue to provide Chinese characteristics such as roast duck to welcome guests from all over the world. ”
At the same time, the restaurant has also been remodeled as a barrier-free one. For example, the spacing between dining seats has been adjusted to facilitate wheelchair access, and the number of passages has been increased. Taking the Beijing Winter Paralympic Village Restaurant as an example, 146 seats were reduced and 338 seats were retained, of which 118 were unseated and 220 were seated. A wheelchair storage area was also set up, and 35 sets of wheelchair storage plates were prepared. At the same time, the rules for placing drinks, spices, etc. have been changed to facilitate the access of disabled athletes. Taking into account the needs of visually impaired athletes, the restaurant also has a Braille menu.
Outside of the game: fitness and entertainment are readily available
In order to meet the fitness and leisure needs of athletes, the village's fitness center and recreation center continue to provide services and upgrade accessibility facilities. Taking the Beijing Winter Paralympic Village as an example, the 2,000-square-meter fitness center has multiple areas such as strength areas and stretching areas, and 23 kinds of fitness equipment and 166 fitness equipment for athletes to choose freely. Eight hand-cranked bicycles have also been specially added to the "Three Villages" to facilitate aerobic fitness training for disabled athletes.
In addition, there are general clinics, licensed shops, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, cafes, hairdressers, bookstores, etc. in the village. The village also held a variety of activities and interactive games for the athletes, such as lion dances, making clay "snow rongrong", writing blessing characters, making handmade lanterns, etc., so that the athletes can feel the traditional Chinese culture and enrich their life in the village.
In terms of transportation, the village is equipped with barrier-free shuttle buses, special platforms for the disabled, special parking spaces, and special auxiliary personnel. Even the vehicles have been upgraded – there are no seats in the middle of the vehicle, six wheelchairs can be secured, and there are storage ramps that make it easier for wheelchair- or crutches-wielding Paralympic athletes to get on and off the bus.