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SCIO press conference on latest progress of 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games preparations and updates on Yanqing and Zhangjiakou competition zones

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Shangyou News:

A large number of people have been working at the venues to make sure the Games run smoothly, following a short window of preparation time, which poses challenges to their professionalism and ability to run the Games. How has the BOCOG conducted pre-Games training? Thank you.

Yan Cheng:

Thank you. I'll answer this question. The BOCOG recognizes the importance of adequate training. Upon its establishment, the BOCOG made a series of top-level designs regarding the training work and provided training while building the organizer teams. We have established a tiered system of general training, specialized training, and training on venues and specific posts, with international training at the core. We have coordinated 568 training programs for a total of 57,000 person times, covering people including salaried employees of the Organizing Committee, staff from relevant government departments who are responsible for executing services, as well as volunteers from universities and colleges, personnel from various social sectors, contractors and venue owners.

Since the beginning of this year, we have established comprehensive training for general venue staff and those working in specific posts, which is based on the various stages of hosting the Games, and focused on improving the organizers' professionalism and abilities to run the Games. We have made efforts in the following main aspects:

First, we conducted extensive international training. Relying on the "Beijing 2022 Learning Strategy" jointly implemented by the BOCOG and the IOC, as well as the "Excellence Program" co-conducted by the BOCOG and the IPC, we have launched targeted learning and training programs to improve the organizers' awareness of the Games' rules and their capabilities of running the Games. For example, since October, we have customized 10 courses for the director-level leadership of the competition venues, and another eight courses for non-competition venues, covering a total of 367 participants. The customized courses were co-designed with the IOC and the IPC, to improve the abilities and competence of participating directors. Moreover, from November to December, we offered 29 preparedness courses for the Winter Olympics and 41 similar courses for the Winter Paralympics to 3,883 participants. These examples demonstrate our firm grasp of the characteristics that underpin international training to meet the needs of hosting such a global winter multi-sport event.

Second, we have proactively trained staff at venues and specific posts, which is doubtlessly an integral feature and requirement of the pre-Games stage. Following the guidelines and implementation arrangements of such training, the BOCOG has coordinated and launched 91 training projects in fields such as competition organization, venue operation, infrastructure and personnel management. To date, we have completed 65 projects, covering more than 4,500 people in charge of key operations of the venues. In line with training organized by the BOCOG, teams across multiple venues have carried out their own extensive training. They have focused on application scenario training and simulation exercises and provided multi-level and multi-domain training for their organizers. A total of 231 training programs have been organized, including the ice-making training at the National Speed Skating Oval (known as the Ice Ribbon), barrier-free training at the Ice Cube, and pandemic prevention training at the National Sleigh and Luge Center. These efforts have effectively closed any outstanding loopholes and enabled organizers to master the knowledge and skills, through hands-on experience, necessary to execute their duties in a short period of time.

Third, we have continued to strengthen specialized training across the board. Since the second half of this year, we have offered 117 specialized training programs in areas such as power supply, timing and scoring, and medical services. We have advanced specialized training for different kinds of personnel in various industries, including domestic technical officials, ice makers, snowcat drivers, and ski lift ropeway operators. Our basic principle is to offer targeted and specialized training that reinforces any area of weakness. All kinds of professional personnel and workers have had the chance to hone their skills and grow into their roles through training and practice. The test events also examined the training effects on various types of workers.

At the same time, business training for venue directors, language training for venue staff, and other general training projects of various kinds are also underway in a coordinated manner. All our organizers are making every effort to fully ready themselves for the Winter Olympics. Thank you.

Xing Huina:

Due to time constraints, today's briefing is hereby concluded. Thank you to all our speakers and friends from the media. Goodbye.

Translated and edited by Wang Qian, Wang Yiming, Li Huiru, Zhang Rui, Liu Jianing, Liu Qiang, Li Xiao, Wang Yanfang, Xiang Bin, Zhou Jing, Qin Qi, Yuan Fang, Yang Xi, Liu Sitong, Xu Xiaoxuan, Zhang Junmian, David Ball, Jay Birbeck, Tom Arnstein and Drew Pittock. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.