Transportation providers all set as event draws near

Transportation service providers are prepared for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, with more than 6,800 vehicles and 13,000 drivers in place, the Ministry of Transport said on Thursday.

The Games will begin on Feb 4.

"The ministry is overseeing the transportation coordination team for the Winter Games to implement tailored measures, including setting up special lanes for vehicles, establishing temporary transport hubs and yards and managing epidemic control in the sector," Liu Pengfei, a ministry spokesman, told a news conference on Thursday.

Special lanes marked with a Games logo with a combined length of 510 kilometers were put into use on Jan 21 in host areas to facilitate the movement of authorized vehicles. Drivers who illegally occupy the Olympic lanes will face fines of 200 yuan ($30).

China State Railway Group, the national railway operator, has developed a tailored online ticket booking system for participants taking trains between host areas.

Participants, including athletes, coaches, media and official representatives, are required to stay within a biosecurity bubble during the Games.

The Games are being hosted in three areas－downtown Beijing, the capital's Yanqing district and co-host Zhangjiakou, a city in Hebei province. Transportation plans aim to ensure safe, speedy movement between the areas.

Since Jan 21, the transportation sector has been providing tailored services for the Games that will continue for 55 days through March 16, after the conclusion of the Winter Paralympic Games.

"The next step is to focus on crucial tasks, including the opening and closing ceremonies, participants' arrivals and departures, as well as athletes' movements between venues to ensure safe and swift transportation," Liu said.

A readiness drill was carried out last week to prepare for extreme weather, he added.

Transportation departments in provincial-level regions－Beijing, Tianjin, the provinces of Hebei and Shanxi, and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region－participated in the drill.

Thorough inspections have been carried out on roads to remove ice and snow. More than 1,000 workers and 550 pieces of equipment are prepared to de-ice roads if necessary.

Drivers have also received training to handle extreme weather, Liu added.