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Winter Games: Beijing organisers deliver a Paralympic makeover in time for opening ceremony
- Host cities have just 11 days between the Winter Olympics closing event and the Paralympic opening ceremony to solve venue issues and alter facilities
- Adjustments at Yanqing Paralympic Village include modifications for wheelchair users and the introduction of Braille menus
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While still basking in the afterglow of the Beijing Winter Olympics, organisers are quickly making accessible and barrier-free modifications for the Paralympians arriving in China.
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The Winter Paralympics are set to open amid the long-running pandemic and in the shadow of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The event for athletes with disabilities starts on Friday and runs until March 13.
The host has just 11 days between the Olympics closing ceremony and the Paralympics opening ceremony, during which it checks and solves any issues with venues and infrastructure.
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How does the Beijing Winter Olympic ‘closed loop’ bubble work?
How does the Beijing Winter Olympic ‘closed loop’ bubble work?
On February 24 at the main press centre, a banner bearing the iconic five-ring Olympic logo was taken down and replaced with one featuring the three Paralympic Agitos.
Beijing’s strict “closed loop” Winter Games bubble means workers who are permitted temporary access for operational purposes to competition and non-competition venues must wear protective gear.
During the February 4-20 Olympics, robots helped implement Covid-19 countermeasures, doing everything from delivering dishes, spraying disinfectant on floors and collecting garbage.
Machines were also used to check people’s temperatures and remind them to wear a mask.
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