High-level barrier-free facilities for Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics

A Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games accessibility meeting was held on Dec 20.

A Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games accessibility meeting is held on Dec 20.[photo/cdpf.org.cn]

According to the arrangement for accessibility work in Beijing in 2022, the Beijing Olympic Winter Games Organizing Committee will strengthen coordination and supervision in accordance with the technical standards as set forth in the "Guidelines for Accessibility of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games" to ensure that the Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Games venues construction and event services are carried out without obstacles. The larger goal is to promote the barrier-free environment level of Beijing, Zhangjiakou and the whole country.

Providing a barrier-free race environment was an important part of Beijing's bid to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and is the common responsibility of Olympic Winter Games organizing committees and any host city. The Host City Contract specifically requires that "the Olympic and Paralympic Games shall provide an accessible and inclusive environment for all".

A high-level accessibility environment is the basic condition for hosting a wonderful, extraordinary and remarkable Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. It is also a valuable Olympic legacy and an important symbol of social civilization.

In accordance with the requirements of the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, the Beijing Olympic Winter Games Organizing Committee was formally given joint responsibility with the Beijing Architectural Design and Research Institute for organizing six top scientific research institutions such as Tsinghua University to meet accessibility goals in May 2017.

Under the guidance of the International Paralympic Committee and the Beijing Olympic Winter Games 2022 the Paralympic Games Barrier-Free Guide was published.

The Guide includes general rules, suggestions for barrier-free accessibility to hotels and accommodation, to information, to competitions and training venues, to urban infrastructures, and to transport and social environments and services. It also provides for barrier-free training and access to other activities of the games, specifying certain requirements with a wealth of illustrations and parameters.

In addition, since July this year, the Beijing Olympic Winter Games Organizing Committee, the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Beijing, Hebei governments and the CDPF have been jointly building an accessibility coordination work platform, and have set up the "Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Games and Paralympic Games accessibility task list. "

The list names 161 tasks from 24 areas, including overall planning and working mechanisms, planning and design of stadiums and infrastructure, approval of construction, sports meeting services, venue operations and event protection, transportation and departure services, and accessibility information. There are 67 event service accessibility tasks, 65 urban accessibility tasks, and 29 cross-tasks.

Beijing Paralympic Games venues will be built in accordance with the non-barrier guidelines to effectively meet the needs of athletes with disabilities and those of spectators. The National Stadium, National Aquatics Center, and National Alpine Skiing Center in Zhangjiakou have all planned to set up wheelchair seats within regular seating. Construction will be completed in 2019.