You are here: China > Government > SCIO Briefings >

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

: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, December 9, 2021

Adjust font size:

Beijing Radio & Television Station:

As we know, Yanqing district has just completed the "Experience Beijing" series of winter events, including the FIL Luge International Training Week and the FIL Luge World Cup. The FIL Luge World Cup, in particular, was the first world-class luge event held in China. Please brief us on the overall situation of the test activities. In addition, how did Yanqing district organize the events and guarantee the services? Thank you.

Yu Bo:

I will answer this question. Thank you and thanks to the media for your attention to the FIL Luge International Training Week and the FIL Luge World Cup. Let me first introduce these test activities in general. From Nov. 4 to 22, the Yanqing competition area of Beijing 2022 hosted the FIL Luge International Training Week and the FIL Luge World Cup. A total of 280 Chinese and foreign athletes, as well as team officials from 27 countries and regions participated in the events. In accordance with Winter Olympic standards and the requirements of "ensuring that all those in need are tested," we carried out comprehensive tests of the competition organization, epidemic prevention and control, television broadcasting, external support and other work.

The FIL Luge World Cup held in Yanqing marks the International Luge Federation (FIL)'s 2021-2022 season opener. It is also the first time that China held a World Cup level luge event. It is an important leg, in which athletes can meet their quota for the luge event of Beijing 2022, and its program is exactly the same as the Winter Olympics. During the World Cup, the National Sliding Center welcomed 300 spectators to the scene, making it the first test that included an audience for the "Experience Beijing" series.

On the whole, the guarantee of venue facilities is in place, the competition organization is stable and orderly, the epidemic prevention and control is accurate and effective, and the competition service is meticulous and thoughtful. FIL president Einars Fogelis gave a thumbs-up to the venues that comprise the National Sliding Center and the events during the FIL Luge International Training Week. "It's an amazing venue, it's very great and a nice present for our sport," he said, adding "From the athletes' side, you provide all what's necessary for the athletes, for the training and for the officials in the highest level."

Let me introduce the event organization and service guarantee. First, the command system is streamlined and efficient. The Yanqing competition area organizing committee has a venue group command center, which coordinates and dispatches various headquarters such as the sled and luge venues, Banquan comprehensive service center, comprehensive service support, urban operation and peripheral service support, effectively connecting those support services across various fields such as accommodation, catering, transportation, medical treatment and epidemic prevention through the daily operation schedule, so as to achieve the high quality and efficiency of all work inside and outside the venue.

Second, we organized the competition in an orderly and stable manner. The venue operation team built a seamless joint mechanism with the FIL, through which face-to-face communication was conducted on a daily basis to address relevant issues and collect and respond to athletes' concerns and needs in a timely manner. The hardware facilities and ice surfaces at the venue was consistently improved to ensure success for the training and competition. As the event organization got increasingly smooth and athletes grew more familiar with the race tracks, their speeds increased, with a recorded top instantaneous speed of 135.1 km/h. Noticeably, China's athlete won qualification for the Luge World Cup for the first time, creating history.

Third, we have devised targeted and effective anti-epidemic measures. We have built a three-tiered system for epidemic prevention and control, namely "inside the closed-loop, outside the closed-loop and periphery," and have accordingly installed quarantine facilities, posted anti-epidemic tips and plugged loopholes. We have ensured separated management of personnel throughout transportation, board and lodging, and competition. We adopted a "loop within loop" approach for close contacts of confirmed cases found during the test event to avoid cross-infection.

Fourth, we have provided meticulous and considerate services. In terms of medical care at the competition venue, we have maintained close contact with the FIL and clarified rescue routes. A total of four ambulances were on standby and provided medical services for 51 athletes. It took an average of three minutes to arrive at the sites of rescue. The shortest time it took to complete preliminary bandaging, diagnosis and treatment was six minutes. In terms of catering services, to lower the risk of cross infection, we divided the catering area, and the number of support personnel we provided meals and beverages to was 90,507 person-times. In terms of transportation, we had shuttle services available from the hotel to the competition venue, and the number of trips made reached 1,986, transporting personnel totaling 18,551 person-times, among which 3,759 were for athletes. Under the joint efforts of various parties, athletes and all the other relevant parties were appreciative of the competition services. Thank you.