From December 4 to 5, the 2015 "FISE" Beijing World Snowboard Tour and Live Music Concert will take place at the Bird's Nest. Hai Zhenwen, director of the Municipal Sports Competition Management Center, said that this year’s "FISE" will introduce advanced snow-making technology to provide athletes with higher-level hardware support. Next year, the city will also host a series of winter sports events to encourage more people to participate in ice and snow activities.
What is "FISE"?
The popular European event "FISE" is part of the World Snowboard Tour and is the highest-level six-star snowboarding competition, where champions can earn 1,000 points and a $100,000 prize. At the same time, "FISE" promotes the perfect combination of sports, music, and fashion, featuring live music performances after each competition, which are especially popular among young people. Additionally, the big air event used in "FISE" is currently under consideration for inclusion in the Winter Olympics. Compared to existing snowboarding events in the Winter Olympics, the big air event features higher jumps and longer flight distances, giving athletes ample time to perform twists and maneuvers in the air.
Since 2010, "FISE" has been held in Beijing for five consecutive years as a stop on its tour, becoming a highlight in Beijing and Zhangjiakou’s bid for the Winter Olympics. Last year, with the signing of a new hosting agreement, "FISE" will continue to be held in Beijing through 2019. This year’s competition is organized by the Municipal Sports Bureau, with 24 top international snowboard athletes participating.
Where does the snow come from?
The competition track will be completed by the 25th of this month, with snow-making scheduled from the 30th to December 2.
Unlike previous years when snow was transported from places like Miyun and Yanqing to build the track, this year the organizing committee has partnered with a foreign company to use liquid nitrogen snow-making technology to produce 3,000 cubic meters of snow on-site. "In the past, transporting snow from suburban areas incurred high transportation costs, and the quality of the snow would deteriorate during transit, failing to meet international top standards. This new technology not only eliminates temperature limitations but also ensures stable snow quality at a cost comparable to before," said a relevant official. This snow-making technology not only meets the needs of the competition but also serves as a valuable experiment for the future development of winter sports in Beijing and across the country, as well as for the preparation of the 2022 Winter Olympics. "If this technology can be promoted in more cities, it will greatly contribute to achieving the goal of '300 million people on snow and ice.'"
More Winter Sports Events in the Capital
This year’s "FISE" has also seen a comprehensive upgrade in production and promotion, including activities such as the "FISE Baby" selection, promotional efforts through the official WeChat platform, and the implementation of affordable ticket policies. A relevant official stated that they hope these measures will encourage more people to participate in "FISE" and in winter sports.
It is revealed that, riding on the success of the Winter Olympics bid, Beijing plans to introduce and create a series of winter sports events next year. "On one hand, we will bring in high-level international competitions, such as inviting professional ice hockey teams from Europe and America to hold exhibition matches in Beijing, and introducing indoor snowboard halfpipe performance events, to enrich the spectator experience for citizens. On the other hand, following ice hockey, championships in figure skating and short track speed skating will also be launched in the city, providing competitive platforms for both youth and professional athletes, and encouraging more people to participate in and learn about winter sports through these competitions."
By Wang Xiaoxiao, Our Reporter