Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, Nov. 22 (Reporter Wang Yong) — From the evening of the 21st to the 22st, snowflakes fell gently as a heavy snowfall blanketed the capital city in white, giving winter sports enthusiasts an early taste of snowy fun. The snowfall infused the international metropolis set to host the Winter Olympics with a strong Olympic atmosphere.
The heavy snowfall brought joy to the staff at the National Stadium, who are gearing up for the Bird’s Nest Welcome Ice and Snow Season and the Air & Style (沸雪) event.
“Following the first snow earlier this month, this timely snowfall allows winter sports lovers to fully enjoy themselves at the Bird’s Nest,” said Shi Lei, an employee of the stadium, cheerfully. The snow not only enhanced the festive atmosphere of the winter-themed activities at the Bird’s Nest but also significantly reduced the need for artificial snow production.
Shi Lei revealed that this winter marks the first since Beijing’s successful bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. The Bird’s Nest will intensify the promotion of Winter Olympics events during the Joyful Ice and Snow Season. While hosting a series of international-level winter sports competitions, it will further elevate the brand of the Bird’s Nest Ice and Snow Season, helping to foster a favorable atmosphere for the Games’ preparation.
It is reported that from December 4th to 5th, the “Air & Style” World Snowboard Tour and live music concert will kick off the winter ice and snow festivities at the Bird’s Nest. On the stadium’s high-standard professional slope, 24 top global snowboarders will deliver thrilling extreme challenges. This will mark the fifth consecutive year that Air & Style is held at the Bird’s Nest. Subsequently, the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup – Aerials, featuring top skiers from around the globe, will be held here for the third time.
As top-tier skiing events unfold in succession, public ice and snow activities will further ignite the Winter Olympics passion at the Bird’s Nest. The 7th Bird’s Nest Joyful Ice and Snow Festival will open after these events. Themed “Beijing Winter Olympics — Starting Here,” this year’s festival will feature a completely revamped and upgraded snow play zone. Efforts will be made to enhance interactivity and fun, with two professional beginner-to-intermediate ski slopes, 10 super tubing lanes, and snowmobile rides set up in the warm-up area, aiming to meet visitors’ diverse needs for snow play, skiing, skating, and entertainment. The festival is expected to attract 100,000 visitors for an ice and snow carnival.
The Water Cube and Wukesong Arena are also iconic venues of the Beijing Olympics and will play key roles in the 2022 Winter Olympics by hosting ice hockey and curling events. Since Beijing’s Winter Olympics bid, both venues have been increasingly infused with Olympic elements. Last winter, they hosted numerous ice and snow activities, and this year is no exception, with plans for winter carnivals after the season begins. This winter, the Water Cube will begin renovations to meet the requirements for hosting curling competitions during the Winter Olympics, allowing it to seamlessly transition between its roles as the “Water Cube” and the “Ice Cube.” It is expected to be transformed into the “Ice Cube” by early 2017 and will host a series of world women’s curling tournaments. Both the outdoor areas of the Water Cube and the Wukesong Sports Center will host a variety of winter carnivals.
Yanqing District in Beijing, which is planned to host several snow events for the Winter Olympics, has in recent days presented a spectacular scene of snowy urban streets and white mountain landscapes. Local ski resorts, such as Shijinglong and Badaling, are racing against time to meet construction deadlines, aiming to begin trial operations by the end of November. This winter, Yanqing will organize 21 rich winter activities across four categories: ice and snow competitions, training, tourism, and cultural promotions — including an ice marathon, New Year’s hiking, the Badaling-Xiaohaituo Winter Olympics Charity Run Challenge, winter camps, and Winter Olympics culture exhibitions.
This is the first winter since Beijing won its bid to host the Winter Olympics. The snowy landscape has added a strong winter sports atmosphere to the city, now an “Olympic city.” According to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, this winter’s “Beijing Citizens’ Happy Ice and Snow Season” will feature over a hundred public ice and snow experience activities, encouraging more residents to take up winter fitness sports.