Beijing's National Aquatics Center to shine blue light for autism awareness
- By Zhu Bochen
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 30, 2023
A poster for this year's "Light it Blue" event organized by the National Aquatics Center in Beijing. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
The National Aquatics Center in Beijing will be illuminated in blue on April 2 to mark the 16th World Autism Awareness Day, uniting with various sectors of society to promote the values of fairness, equity, unity and hard work among children with autism.
For the 13th time, the dual-Olympic venue, also known as the "Water Cube" or "Ice Cube," is organizing the annual "Light it Blue" event as part of its corporate social responsibility.
This year, the venue plans to collaborate with the National Speed Skating Oval and local AI companies to launch a series of in-person experience projects. These initiatives will include sporting activities tailored for people with disabilities, discussions on integrating sports and medicine, and the sustainable development of teenagers with disabilities. The event will also feature a children's art exhibition and a charity fair.
The event, which will be broadcast live, will also showcase a virtual art exhibition and an online campaign advocating for increased public awareness of developmental disabilities.
In addition, Jinmao Tower, a landmark building in Shanghai, will join the venue in turning on blue lights via live video streaming on the night of April 2, and jointly launch activities calling for more care for "children from the stars," a term often used to refer to autistic children in China.
The National Aquatics Center in Beijing turns blue on April 2, 2022, to mark World Autism Awareness Day. [Photo by Zhu Bochen/China.org.cn]
Distinct from other Olympic venues, the National Aquatics Center was constructed with donations from 350,000 compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese from over 100 countries and regions. This set the tone for the venue's ongoing commitment to promoting public welfare.
Having successfully hosted water and ice sports competitions during the 2008 Summer and 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the venue has developed long-term plans for creating barrier-free facilities and ensuring a safer and more accessible environment for people with disabilities.
Today, the venue is adopting a sustainable development path featuring not only water and ice sports, but also fitness programs designed for people with disabilities. It will continue leveraging its strength in venue operation and boost public welfare using its dual-Olympic facilities.
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