Testing program examines service and safeguarding

BEIJING - Around 600 spectators were queuing up to show their QR health code, scan tickets and go through security check on the square between the National Stadium and the National Aquatics Center.

They were waiting to enter the National Aquatics Center, now known as the "Ice Cube" which is to hold Beijing 2022 curling events, to watch a mixed curling match in the "Experience Beijing" ice sports testing series.

The testing program, which is underway between April 1 and 10, will put various facilities and procedures to test in a bid to lay solid foundation for delivering a successful Beijing 2022.

A non-contact award ceremony was held several hours later, as athletes present medals to each other in spectators' applause.

It's just a snapshot of the testing program which also include testing areas in epidemic prevention and control, spectator service, sports exhibition and award ceremony.

Yang Jinshan, deputy director in charge of service in the Capital Gymnasium, the figure skating venue for Beijing 2022, is responsible for eight different areas: registration, logistics, competition, sponsor, and language services. Roughly 1,800 accreditation cards were handed out from his hands one week prior to the testing program, and he arranged three translators in company with foreign ice-making experts.

Sports exhibition is one specific segment added to the test program this time, with around 80 professional staff dispatched to five competition venues.

According to He Qiongshan, a sports exhibition coordinator in the Capital Gymnasium, each venue is equipped with three experienced foreign experts. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these experts trained domestic staff and gave their feedbacks during the testing program via video link.

All competition venues have gone through upgrades with Beijing 2022 approaching. Advanced lighting system, sound equipments and screens have given He more confidence in doing a fine job in sports exhibition, and she described her work so far as "fine and smooth."

Safety shall go first in staging all competitions, and epidemic prevention and control are a must at the current stage.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG) has laid out an epidemic prevention work plan. Venue operation teams have detailed respective work plans on the basis of the characteristics of each event. Medical staff and ambulances are in place, and closed-loop management and health monitoring on personnel is carried out during the testing program.

The technological factor is clearly felt during this span. Band-aid-like intelligent thermometers with chips inside are employed in the Wukesong Sports Center to monitor personnel's real-time body temperature. With self-help obstacle avoidance navigation, logistics robots are shuttling within the working area and canteen to transport items.

With the help of 40 cameras and a 3D reconstruction of the visual, "free visual angle" technology allows spectators to choose their angle of watching matches. It also functions in refereeing and players and coaches reviewing the game.

"We believe these technological innovations will bring Beijing 2022 to spectators the world over in a more spectacular way," said Gao Bo from the media operations department of the BOCOG.

A total of 1,026 volunteers are involved in 22 areas, including venue management, image and landscape, staff management, transportation, catering, sports and anti-doping.

Sun Qi, a student of Renmin University of China, is a volunteer to serve the volunteers. Her job is to help volunteers solve their own problems and plan activities for them.

"I was small when Beijing hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 2008. I feel fortunate to volunteer for Beijing 2022. Everyone needs to make their own contributions in this era," she noted.

The testing program is nearing its conclusion. Like Sun, staff engaging in service is working tirelessly to ensure that everything is in place for delivering a successful Games with less than one year to go.

They are busy with tight schedules, but the smiles on every participant's face say it all.

"The venue service is great and I feel quite comfortable here," ice hockey youngster Xu Yuyang commented. He joined the testing program at the Wukesong Sports Center.

"We have tested everything as we can such as registration, award ceremony, sports exhibition, spectator experience, media operation and broadcast service, and transportation. The result is satisfying," said Yao Hui, head of the venue management department of the BOCOG.