Facilities ready to serve

As all barrier-free facilities at the competition venues of the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games have been completed, the "Ice Cube" hosted the 2021 Wheelchair Curling World Championship as part of the "Experience Beijing" testing events, offering the best quality guarantee and the most humanized service.

A total of 92 people from 12 countries and regions have stayed and trained at the China Administration of Sport for Persons with Disabilities (CASPD) from October 17 to 31, during which humanistic care and accessible services were provided by the organizers.

World Curling Federation president Kate Caithness called the National Aquatics Center the best curling venue she had ever experienced. "The changing rooms, ramps and other facilities have been designed with great ingenuity and consideration," she said.

According to the Accessibility Guidelines for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the National Aquatics Center has been upgraded in various infrastructure areas, including parking, entrances and exits, elevators, ramps, toilets, dressing rooms, barrier-free signage systems, etc.

The venue has also recruited a medical team consists of 39 experienced staff members from Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, some of whom have had previous Olympic experience.

Considering the special nature of wheelchair curling, the team includes members from the emergency department, general practice, orthopedics, surgery, neurology, rehabilitation, respiratory and cardiovascular departments to help athletes deal with sports injuries, lower limb infections, urinary tract infections and other diseases.

In terms of catering, every batch of food for athletes has been tested and sampled for viruses and stimulants during food procurement, storage and retention. Senior chefs were invited to cook and provide personalized meals to athletes in need.