Haiyang, Shandong
Changes in the cultural environment and natural landscape have created a favorable overall setting for the Asian Beach Games, while the construction of venues has directly laid the foundation for hosting the event. Starting today, we will take you inside the Asian Beach Games venues and supporting facilities to explore these “mysterious” structures. First, let’s head to our first stop — the Climbing Competition Area.
The speed climbing competition area is divided into four routes, featuring four events: men's and women's speed climbing, and men's and women's speed relay. The difficulty climbing area also has four routes, with two events: men's and women's difficulty climbing. The bouldering area includes two events: men's and women's bouldering. In total, the three areas host eight different competitions. Among them, although the bouldering area is only three meters high, it has steeper slopes compared to the first two areas, and competitors are not allowed to use safety harnesses during the competition, making it more challenging.
Athletes compete on climbing walls as high as over ten meters, which may understandably raise concerns about their safety among spectators. In fact, all facilities in the competition area have been carefully designed with athlete safety in mind. The interior of the climbing venue is built with reinforced concrete, while the external climbing walls are made from materials specified by the International Federation of Sport Climbing that meet the highest competition standards. The holds on the climbing walls can withstand a maximum weight of 1–2 tons.
According to staff, to ensure fairness and rigor in the competition, the holds on the routes will be rearranged before each event. The number of holds on each route, the distance between holds, and the competition routes will all be adjusted temporarily based on the requirements of the event. Additionally, before the competition, the climbing venue will undergo maintenance. Soon, a spectacular “ballet on the cliffs” will be presented to audiences worldwide. (Reporters: Zhao Lianghong, Xie Wenzhen)