SCIO press conference on progress of green Olympics and sustainability for Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 17, 2022
BRTV:
Reusing legacy venues from the Summer Olympics is a big characteristic of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Could you introduce how Beijing is making use of the venues from the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics? Thank you.
Liu Yumin:
Thank you for your question. Beijing 2022 has made the most of the venue legacies from Beijing 2008. As Ms. Yan put it just now, the National Stadium, a venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, will be reused to stage the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The National Aquatics Center, also known as the "Water Cube," will become the "Ice Cube" for curling and wheelchair curling competitions. The National Indoor Stadium and the Wukesong Sports Center, two venues from Beijing 2008, will be reused for ice hockey competitions during the Winter Olympics. In addition to reusing these venues, we also have some legacy land from Beijing 2008. For example, we have transformed a temporary hockey field from the 2008 Games into a speed skating venue for the Winter Olympics. The lands for the Beijing Winter Olympic Village and the major media center were reserved in 2008. Moreover, regarding urban infrastructure, we have used a great deal of legacy infrastructure from Beijing 2008, including subway line 8 and line 10 as well as the corresponding power transformation and distribution facilities and water plants, to guarantee the Winter Olympics.
These reuses, especially the transformation of existing venues, are not a simple functional change. In fact, we still retained their original functions while injecting new functions for winter events. For example, the "Water Cube" can still be used as a swimming center after the Games, and the curling venue can be converted from ice to water in a few days. The reuse of venues, I think, is not a simple repetition, but rather to expand their functions, which is also a highlight of reusing the existing facilities. Thank you.
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