Editor's note: The translators WU Lirong and ZHU Huanhuan are students of School of Foreign Languages and Literature of Beijing Normal University.

By Zhang Aolin, CNS, Feb 9, 2022

Since the opening of Beijing Winter Olympics, the audience has been treated to a superb display of contestants from all over the world, like “flying over the snow” in skiing events and “ice ballet” in figure skating. Meanwhile, the high-tech venues, the "steady and fast" China Railway Highspeed, and the "top-star" Bing Dwen Dwen and other elements of the Winter Olympics have won a lot of praise from athletes, reporters and netizens of all countries, and have gained legions of fans.

On February 7, 17-year-old Chinese boarder Su Yiming makes history and achieves a silver medal in the Beijing Olympic men’s snowboard slopestyle final. This is the first Olympic snowboard medal for the Chinese sports delegation. Photograph: Fu Tian/CNS

Venues of Beijing Winter Olympics have been widely praised

On February 7, 17-year-old Chinese boarder Su Yiming achieved a silver medal of men’s snowboard slopestyle competition in Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province. He made a history.

Besides the medal, the artificial snow in the skiing resort has also been in spotlight.

US National Public Radio (NPR) released an article titled No Snow? No problem on February 7 local time, and praised the artificial snow technology of the Beijing Winter Olympics from multiple perspectives.

Screenshot of NPR’s report

It is pointed out that artificial snow technology is the best choice for the current and future Winter Olympics. The venue’s staff can adjust the temperature, humidity, slope and angle to bring the venues in the most ideal condition.

American alpine skier A. J. Hurt was a little worried about the artificial snow course at first. But after skiing in the National Alpine Ski Center (Xue Fei Yan, literally a swallow flying in snow), Yanqing competition area in Beijing, she said her previous worries were unfounded for “the surface of the skiing resort is perfect!”

Norwegian alpine skier Kjetil Jansrud also liked the National Alpine Ski Center and said: “It’s minus 15 degrees and the sun is shining. There’s no worry about snowfall for this week and this venue is perfect.”

Men's single skating short program of Beijing Winter Olympics is held in Capital Indoor Stadium on February 8. Yuzuru Hanyu is in his training. Photograph: Cui Nan/CNS

Men's single skating short program was held in Capital Indoor Stadium on February 8. The famous figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu from Japan was satisfied with the venue infrastructure and said that it was “most comfortable (ice)” among the three Winter Olympics he has participated in.

On the same day, Chinese player Eileen Gu claimed the historic gold in the women’s freeski big air and made headlines all over the world. Almost simultaneously, the venue for this event – Big Air Shou Gang in Beijing also became popular.

In Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Chinese player Eileen Gu achieves champion in the women’s free ski big air final in Big Air Shou Gang. Eileen Gu is in her warming-up. Photograph: Mao Jianjun/CNS/Feb 8

Reuters pointed out in its report that this venue represented sustainability. Completely different from the traditional snow-capped mountain landscape, the "industrial style" of the Big Air venue amazed English player Kirsty Muir: “The venue is fantastic, and the gig air is wild. It is so cool to ski here!” French player Antoine Adelisse also said, “the field is really magic under the lights.”

What’s more, on February 9, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach expressed that the venue facilities of the Beijing Winter Olympics are so excellent that some players even compared it to paradise. Although he quipped that this statement was a bit exaggerated, he believed that it actually showed the satisfaction and gratitude of players from all over the world for the great venues and lounge facilities.

The “Amazing” Beijing-Zhangjiakou High-speed Rail for the Winter Olympics

Another “hardcore” infrastructure, the Winter Olympics high-speed rail, has become the focus of foreign media.

Screenshot of Bloomberg reporter Kurumi Mori’s Social Media

On the way to the Zhangjiakou zone on February 7, Bloomberg reporter Kurumi Mori released several interior photos of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail for the Winter Olympics, and described it as “fantastic”, for its complete equipment with Wi-Fi, ski lockers and tiltable seats.

Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail. Photograph: Jia Tianyong/CNS

Kyodo News described the Winter Olympics high-speed rail like this: “The train quickly left the center of Beijing, and reached its destination before being noticed, just in a fraction of the time of a car used to take.”

“It’s quiet and elegant here (the interior of the high-speed train),” said Milan Jovanovic commentating on the games for Slovenian television long before the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

“Love for Bing Dwen Dwen” with no borders

The hardware facilities are excellent, so does the software. Since the whole world is immersing in the “Winter Olympics atmosphere”, the mascot Bing Dwen Dwen with a charming naive outlook is popular worldwide with huge followings.

Screenshot of CNN’s report

The United States cable news network (CNN) released an article on February 8 local time, titled “Panda-monium: From medal podiums to spectator stands, Winter Olympics mascot Bing Dwen Dwen is everywhere”. With a photo of Chinese athlete Eileen Gu holding limited-edition golden Bing Dwen Dwen aloft after won the championship, this article said this mascot has become the favourite of the Winter Olympics fans.

NBC’s (National Broadcasting Company) WAVY-TV reporter Marielena Balouris posted a Bing Dwen Dwen doll on social media on February 7, saying “There’s so much excitement at Beijing 2022! Bing Dwen Dwen, hopes you’ll join us live tonight.” NBC even opened a special “Meet the Mascot of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing” column to introduce this cute mascot from all aspects to local readers.

Screenshot of Japan’s morning show Sukkiri’s social media

Japanese journalist Gido Tsujioka has become an influencer throughout social media because of his passionate for Bing Dwen Dwen. He also called himself “Gi Dwen Dwen” in an interview. Moreover, he also mailed Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon (mascot of the Winter Paralympics) dolls back to Japan via international express.

http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gj/2022/02-09/9672160.shtml