In Yabuli, where the snow sports events are set to take place, Games organizers made necessary upgrades to existing ski courses, and only revamped and expanded two specialist venues — those for the big air and slopestyle events. XINHUA
To stick to the green principle of the 9th Asian Winter Games, all 13 venues in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, will use energy-saving, environmentally friendly materials and green, low-carbon technology.
Liu Qinghui, head of the environmental protection team of the athlete services department of the organizing committee, said the team has been intensively preparing a plan for low-carbon hosting since 2023.
"Green energy will be used for the venues' heating, and ultra-low energy consumption technology will be employed for electricity supply, in order to achieve environmental protection goals," Liu said.
According to the organizer, all venues and competitions of the Games will be powered by green electricity, produced from renewable sources with lower environmental impact.
Meanwhile, all construction materials used to upgrade the Harbin Ice Hockey Stadium, which previously hosted the 3rd Asian Winter Games in 1996, are environmentally friendly, said Qin Xulin, director of the Engineering Department of Harbin Urban Development Investment Group.
"All paints and decoration materials used needed to meet strict environmental protection standards," he said.
"Also, the sports lighting fixtures and equipment are all energy-efficient, low-consumption devices."
He added that the construction team has also minimized the use of adhesive agents when building temporary facilities, and that regular tests on air quality in the venue have also been carried out during the construction process.
The Harbin International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Center, venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, has embodied green concepts since its design phase.
In Yabuli, where the snow sports events are set to take place, Games organizers made necessary upgrades to existing ski courses, and only revamped and expanded two specialist venues — those for the big air and slopestyle events. XINHUA
Liu Danyang, a designer from Harbin Institute of Technology's Architecture Design Research Institute, said the steel structure of the grandstand in the center would adopt prefabricated construction techniques, reducing on-site pollution from welding materials, shortening construction periods, protecting the environment and more effectively utilizing resources.
What's more, all the venues are based on existing infrastructure that has been renovated, rather than adopting large-scale construction, Wang Hesheng, vice-president and secretary-general of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 Organizing Committee and mayor of Harbin, said.
"In terms of venue construction, there will be no large-scale demolition. Instead, existing venues and facilities have been renovated and upgraded in aspects such as cold air and heat supply, dehumidification, lighting and internet access to meet the needs of the events," Wang said.
He added that, regarding the snow events, which will be held in Yabuli, about 200 kilometers from Harbin, the organizer has made necessary upgrades to existing ski courses, and only revamped and expanded two specialist venues — those for the big air and slopestyle events.
Existing equipment and facilities at the venues can be fully utilized, and the current ice resurfacers, snowmobiles, protective nets, medical rescue facilities and other equipment in Yabuli will all be put into use, Wang said.
Contact the writer at cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn
