With the 2022 Winter Olympics starting next week, Beijing is rolling out a series of measures to ensure the city's urban functions operate efficiently throughout the Games.

As a mega-city with a population of over 20 million, keeping traffic flowing smoothly is among the chief priorities for city authorities.

"There will be many traffic challenges during the Games, such as residents being encouraged to stay put during Chinese Lunar New Year to avoid the risk of spreading COVID-19," Wu Shijiang, deputy head of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, said at a news conference earlier this month.

"We anticipate many students will choose to spend their winter break in Beijing, while there will be extra pressure on traffic when schools and universities resume classes."

Special traffic measures are being implemented in the capital until March 16 to support the Games, according to the commission.

"We have conducted detailed analysis and forecasts for traffic flow during the Games. We expect that in the northern and western parts of the city, where most venues are located, there may be some congestion during events," Wu said.

"Therefore, based on our previous experience of hosting the 2008 Summer Games, we will carry out temporary traffic management measures to ensure smooth transportation, such as setting up Olympic lanes."

The Olympic lanes, which cover all main roads and expressways between the airport and Games venues, are clearly marked with Beijing 2022 logos and are not accessible by the general public and private vehicles.

Kong Linghui, deputy director of the city's traffic management bureau, said drivers who occupy Olympic lanes illegally will be fined 200 yuan ($31).

To further cut the number of cars on the road during the Games, the municipal government is encouraging companies to adopt flexible working hours and remote working.

"The local governments of the Beijing districts where Olympic venues are located should organize local units to actively implement a flexible working mechanism," Wu said. "Meanwhile, we recommend all residents use green transportation instead of private cars."

Special rail services will also ease traffic volume.

Railway authorities will run 80 bullet train trips every day on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed network to provide commuter services for the Winter Games. Additional train services will be provided during the opening and closing ceremonies.

Railway lines will shuttle participants, including athletes, media representatives and Olympic personnel, to and from the various Games zones.

In order to comply with epidemic control protocols, railway stations, including Qinghe and Yanqing in Beijing, and Taizicheng in Zhangjiakou, are operating separate services for participants in the closed-loop system and regular passengers, until March 16.

Even though Beijing has greatly improved the city's air quality in recent years, efforts to minimize pollution will be further ramped up during the Games.

Residents are strongly recommended to use public transport where possible, while a stricter traffic restriction policy-based on odd-even license plate numbers-will be in place when the air quality is not good enough.

Zheng Kai, a technology employee in Beijing, said it is everyone's duty to contribute to the Winter Olympics, so he will take the subway as much as possible during the Games instead of driving.

"I'm very much looking forward to the Winter Olympics, and hope that the athletes can enjoy the Games and their time in Beijing," Zheng said.

The on-site weather service teams will provide the latest meteorological updates to agencies at the main operation center of the organizing committee. The round-the-clock service will issue traffic-related weather reports, weather warnings and forecasts. The weather team in Yanqing will also pay special attention to forest-fire control and traffic.

The use of 5G technology will facilitate instant updates and communication.

For Beijing 2022 athletes and participants, an immersive 5G experience will start the moment they step into a competition area.

There are about 2,000 base stations in total, including both 4G and 5G, which will provide stable internet coverage across all major venues during the Games, said Cai Kai, general manager of the Network Optimization Center at China Unicom Beijing Branch.

The use of 5G tech will allow staff to instantly measure people's body temperature, use facial recognition and conduct registration with just one scan.

Medical and volunteer services are also being optimized to ensure a safe and smooth Games.

With the medical transport system tailored for use in mountainous areas, and facilities and equipment at nearby hospitals upgraded, China's snow medical service is fully prepared for the Games.

In order to provide the best medical and emergency care, more than 10 hospitals in Beijing and Hebei province have assembled an expert team of clinical personnel, with recruitment beginning in 2018.

Starting on Tuesday, up to 200,000 volunteers will serve the Games. They will be responsible for tasks such as providing information, translation services, and support for people with disabilities.

More than 2,000 people with disabilities in China applied to be volunteers at the Games. Among the successful candidates, the youngest volunteer is 19 years old and the eldest 63.

The volunteers underwent four stages of training-general, professional, venue and on-the-job training-which comprised 23 courses.

Li Jian, deputy head of the volunteer headquarters, said that the authorities will take measures to ensure the volunteers' safety under strict epidemic control and prevention rules.

Huang Zhenxiang is one of a number of volunteers to have participated in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Now he is a volunteer manager at the National Snowmobile and Sled Center in Beijing.

"I was in middle school in 2001, when China won the right to host the 2008 Olympics. I saw people in Beijing celebrating this achievement in the streets," he said.

Speaking at a news conference earlier this month, Han Zirong, secretary-general of the Beijing 2022 organizing committee summed up the general mood in the capital, saying: "China is ready to host the Games. After more than six years of meticulous preparation, the Beijing Winter Olympics are ready."

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