All supporting facilities are now fully operational at the Yabuli competition venue which will take center stage for the snow sports events at the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games, due to get underway in northeast China's "ice city" of Harbin on Friday.
The week-long Games marks China's first major international ice and snow event since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and with 1,270 competitors from 34 countries and regions set to take part, this edition promises to be the largest ever in terms of participating delegations and athletes.
All competition venues for the Games have been renovated from existing facilities, with organizers working to ensure they are fit to deliver high-quality competitions while adhering to the principles of being green, economical and easily re-purposed for post-event use.
At the Yabuli competition zone, located some 200 kilometers away from the host city of Harbin in Heilongjiang Province, all key infrastructure including medical facilities, communications, power and meteorological departments are now fully operational as the countdown to the region's premier ice and snow sports competition continues.
Yabuli is set to host all snow sports events during the Games, with the area featuring one of the world's longest ski runs at nearly 3,000 meters in length.
In addition to the main competition fields, over a dozen other non-competition facilities, including the main awarding hall, have all passed stringent inspections made by the organizing committee.
Notably, the Yabuli Mountain Press Center has officially opened, offering a 24-hour workspace for journalists from around the world. Given the cold temperatures which are expected for the duration of the Games, organizers say they have also sought to provide a warm environment and various amenities to members of the media who are covering the continental event.
"All events in the Yabuli competition venue are being held outdoors. Taking this into consideration, to support journalists returning from the tracks at any time, we've provided hot drinks like brown sugar ginger tea and rock sugar snow pear drink to help them quickly warm up. Additionally, we've created a thoughtful service system at the media center, with a 24-hour shuttle service ensuring smooth travel for journalists. Here, it's not just a smart hub of news production, but a warm haven for media professionals," said Lu Xiangwei, head of the center.
Over the course of the Games, nearly 300 reporters from 17 countries and regions will be based at the Yabuli venue, while more than 1,000 volunteers and staff are already in place to assist those arriving. "All preparations for the Yabuli competition zone have been completed and will fully ensure the smooth progress of the Games. Facilities at the eight competition venues meet International Ski Federation (FIS) standards, with all necessary equipment and teams in place. The 'three villages' - the athletes, technical officials and media villages, have officially opened. We are ready to go all out, with no regrets, to deliver a vibrant and exciting Winter Games, full of Chinese characteristics and distinctly Asian style," said Zhang Chao, deputy commanding officer of the Yabuli competition venue.
The upcoming event, themed "Dream of Winter, Love among Asians", marks the third time the regional games will be held in China, with Harbin having previously hosted back in 1996 and Changchun, capital city of the neighboring Jilin Province, staging the Games in 2007.
Supporting facilities at main snow sports venue ready for 9th Asian Winter Games
Supporting facilities at main snow sports venue ready for 9th Asian Winter Games
