Winter Olympics 100 Questions | How did the Water Cube become the Ice Cube?

　　The 24th Winter Olympic Games will kick off in Beijing on February 4, 2022.

The Sports Department of Chinanews.com has launched a series of column "Hundred Questions about the Winter Olympics", which aims to popularize the knowledge of the Winter Olympics, answer hot questions, share interesting stories about ice and snow, and help everyone have a better viewing experience at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The 91st Winter Olympics 100 Questions | How did the Water Cube become the Ice Cube?

　　As we all know, the National Aquatics Center "Water Cube" is one of the iconic venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

In order to meet the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the "Water Cube" has been transformed into an "Ice Cube".

So, how is "water to ice" accomplished?

After the Winter Olympics, how will the swimming season and the ice season switch?

　　As early as 2019, the Water Cube completed the conversion of the swimming pool and the ice rink for the first time, becoming the first venue in the world to complete the "water-ice conversion", and also realized the gorgeous turn from the "Water Cube" to the "Ice Cube".

During the Winter Olympics, "Ice Cube" will undertake curling and wheelchair curling competitions.

Data map: On December 14, 2021, the "Ice Cube" ice sports center in Beijing passed the completion acceptance.

Image source: ICphoto

　　It is reported that the biggest difficulty in this transformation is that on the basis of retaining the water function of the "Water Cube", the "water-ice conversion" that adds the function on ice is added.

In order to achieve this goal, the water in the pool is first drained, and then the convertible frame is erected in the pool.

The convertible steel structure supporting the ice surface is made of 2,600 thin-walled H-beams 3 meters high and 2 meters long. Rack is sturdy.

　　As part of the "skeleton" that supports the ice surface, the construction of the ice base layer is also very important.

First, lay a layer of PE film on the surface of the precast concrete board, then lay two layers of extruded plastic insulation board, and then lay a layer of PE film and anti-slip layer on the insulation board, and the top layer is the ice-making pipe rack.

Data map: Inside the "Ice Cube" stadium.

　　Ice-making equipment is added outside the venue, which is connected to the orderly laying of ice-making pipes on the ice-making base layer.

Turn on the ice maker and circulate the refrigerant to the ice-making rink through the pipeline, and the ice-making in the arena can be successfully completed.

　　After the National Aquatics Center is transformed from "Water Cube" to "Ice Cube", the competition hall will be able to host ice events, water events and large-scale commercial events.

After the Winter Olympics, the venue will switch between the swimming season and the ice season. The three seasons of spring, summer and autumn will become the "Water Cube" for water sports; in winter, it will be transformed into the "Ice Cube" for ice sports. It has become a model for the sustainable use of Olympic venues.

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