A countdown clock for the 9th Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Song)
Organizers of the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games have highlighted the principles of eco-friendliness and eco-friendliness by using existing ice venues and 100% green electricity for the first time in the tournament's history.
HARBIN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — Three weeks ahead of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China, organizers have emphasized the principles of environmental friendliness.
Wang Hesheng, vice chairman and secretary-general of the Harbin 2025 Organizing Committee, announced that all ice events will use existing venues and facilities, with renovations made to cooling, dehumidification, lighting, heating and network systems.
After the Games, these venues will be opened to the public with higher standards, better environments and more comprehensive features.
Wu Fei, a teacher at Harbin Sports University, shared her expectations for the legacy of the 9th Asian Winter Games for her institution.
“The Harbin Sport University Ice Hall will host the ice hockey competitions during the Asian Winter Games. After the Games, the university will have a more professional space for daily teaching and training,” Wu said.
The rink was professionally upgraded in preparation for the Games, which not only eliminates the need for new facilities, but also improves the standards of the university's ice and snow sports infrastructure.
The Heilongjiang Ice Training Center is dedicated to preparing athletes for speed skating, short track speed skating and figure skating competitions at the Games.
Gao Chenxi in action during the women's 1500m race of the 2024-2025 China Cup Speed Skating Elite League at Heilongjiang Ice Training Center in Harbin, China, Dec. 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)
Wu
Ahead of the 9th Asian Winter Games, these venues underwent extensive renovations.
“We renovated the roof and external walls of the speed skating rink and installed a thermal insulation system and waterproofing. The lighting system was upgraded, cooling capacity was increased and a heat recovery system was installed, significantly increasing the venue's energy efficiency.
“We replaced gasoline-powered ice resurfacing machines with electric alternatives, further improving the venue’s environmental impact,” said Wu Xian.
This is also the first time in history that 100% green electricity will be guaranteed during the Asian Winter Games, both for venue renovation and Games operations.
Liu Qinghui, head of the organizing committee's environmental protection working group, said that the venues will be continuously supplied with green energy from wind and solar energy throughout the Games to meet their energy needs.
“We have implemented a rigorous selection process for quality material suppliers and brands for venue renovation and, after conducting environmental impact assessments, created a “green materials” whitelist to ensure all materials used are environmentally friendly. We have minimized the use of adhesives and instead opted for riveted or assembled structures wherever possible,” Liu added.
The Organizing Committee has also introduced new energy vehicles to meet transport needs during the Games, underlining that the green and low-carbon approach is not only a fundamental principle of the Games, but is also expected to have a positive impact on daily life in the future.
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)