China News Service, Beijing, December 12 (Xinhua) -- From "hot in one season" to "red all year round", the Winter Olympics venues continue to write "Frozen"
China News Service reporter Chen Hang
It's another year of snow and ice season. In December, in the cold winter, a number of high-level events were held in the Winter Olympic venues in Beijing and Hebei. In many ski resorts in the two places, many ski enthusiasts gallop down the slopes to experience the charm of ice and snow sports.
On the evening of December 12, ski enthusiasts experienced night skiing at Fulong Ski Resort, Chongli District, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. Photo by China News Service reporter Jia Tianyong
In the post-Winter Olympics era, how to overcome the global problem of post-competition use of venues and transform Winter Olympics resources into long-term development? In the past few days, reporters from China News Service have visited the National Biathlon Center, the National Aquatics Center and other Winter Olympic venues to explore the sustainable use and development of the Winter Olympic legacy.
As the main venue for the snow events of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province is prosperous because of ice and snow. The second leg of the 2023 Hebei Ice and Snow League cross-country skiing event will be held here in December at the National Biathlon Center in Chongli District, the first internationally certified biathlon competition venue in China, attracting competitors from city- and county-level ice and snow sports associations and social organizations, winter sports characteristic schools, youth clubs and other units in Hebei Province to enjoy the first-class Winter Olympic venues.
On December 12, the second stop of the cross-country skiing project of the 12 Hebei Ice and Snow League was held at the National Biathlon Center. Photo by China News Service reporter Jia Tianyong
After the intense skiing competition, Tian Ziyan, an athlete in the women's group B of the Zhangjiakou team, was deeply impressed by the track of the National Biathlon Center. Tian Ziyan, who came here for the second time, said that compared to other ski resorts, the slopes at the National Biathlon Center are harder and firmer, which allows her to get better support and help improve the speed and performance of the competition.
Making full use of the advantages of the venue and actively carrying out sports events is the basis for the post-competition use of the Winter Olympic venues. The National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Sports of China and other departments issued the "Action Plan for Promoting the Construction of Outdoor Sports Facilities and Service Improvement (10-2023)" in October this year, which proposes to encourage venues such as the Beijing Winter Olympics to host events after the games and improve the utilization rate.
Since the beginning of this year, a number of high-level events have been kicked off at the Winter Olympic venues. In September this year, the 9 Beijing Athletics Open Finals was staged at the National Stadium; In November this year, the 2023-11 ISU Speed Skating World Cup was held at the National Speed Skating Hall in Beijing, and the 2023-2024 ISU Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup was held at the National Bobsleigh Center in Yanqing...
On December 12, people experienced the charm of curling at the Beijing National Aquatics Center. Photo by China News Service reporter Jia Tianyong
The landing of sports events in the Winter Olympics venues has stimulated the enthusiasm of the public to participate in ice and snow sports, and also promoted the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism.
The Yanqing Olympic Park, located in Xiaohaituo Mountain, Beijing, covers the National Alpine Skiing Center, the National Bobsleigh Center and the Yanqing Winter Olympic Village. After the Winter Olympics, Beijing Enterprises Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Beijing Enterprises Group), the construction and operator of the Yanqing competition area, actively made the follow-up use of the legacy of the Winter Olympics.
"Data shows that since it opened to the public on April 2022, 4, the park has received nearly 29,40 visitors." Zhu Guodong, general manager of Beijing Enterprises Group, said that in order to promote the opening and sharing of the Winter Olympic venues to the whole society, the park will be open to the public free of charge from December 12 this year, and tourists can enjoy the Winter Olympic venues after entering the park. This year, the National Alpine Skiing Championships and the International Ski Federation Alpine Skiing Far East Cup will also be held in the park, and visitors will be provided with free tickets.
Zhu Guodong said that the park will also vigorously develop ice and snow sports, outdoor events, cultural exhibitions, health and wellness vacations and other characteristic formats, and constantly enrich diversified products to provide tourists with a full experience of the four-season holiday of "spring flower appreciation, summer summer escape, autumn mountaineering, and winter skiing".
In addition, the reporter learned that the National Ski Jumping Center has completed the construction and transformation of internal and external lighting, seats, audio and other facilities to meet the needs of conferences, exhibitions, celebrations and other formats; The National Biathlon Center has been transformed into an outdoor sports gathering place integrating shooting, roller skating, cycling, camping and other projects, which can realize the combination of winter and summer and the operation of the Winter Olympic venues in four seasons.
From "cold resources" to "hot economy", from "hot in one season" to "red all year round", the Winter Olympic venues have gradually become a popular check-in place for people to enjoy the cultural heritage and sports and leisure of the Winter Olympics. (ENDS)