Zhangjiakou’s iconic Ski Jumping Centre is set to host its first international tournament – FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup over the weekend as a test for Beijing 2022.
While Beijing hosts all indoor sports during the Olympic Winter Games next February, Zhangjiakou’s newly-built venues in the Guyangshu area will facilitate ski jumping, cross-country skiing, nordic combined and biathlon events.
The National Ski Jumping Centre – the very first one in China – is built on frame structure between valleys, rather than on the ridges, to minimize the impact by the strong wind.
The first gold medal at Beijing 2022 – women’s skiathlon – will be hand out at the National Cross-country Skiing Centre.
China maintains some of the world’s strictest anti-virus travel restrictions and has said it will not allow overseas spectators at the games.
Athletes, staff and journalists will be confined to bubbles for the duration of the competition.
China said earlier this week the omicron variant of the coronavirus is a concern for organizers but it remains confident the games will be held as scheduled in February.
