The craze ignited by the Beijing Olympic Winter Games does not seem to wane. In Beijing, sleds, slides and bicycles used on ice rinks are quite popular in venues like the Summer Palace and Beihai Park. In Hebei Province, the opening ceremony of the Fourth Hebei Ice and Snow Games, attended by over 5,000 athletes, was held in Chongli District, Zhangjiakou City. On major e-commerce platforms, sales of ice and snow gears are spiking.
The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 Legacy Report (Post-Games) released recently by the Games' Organizing Committee summarizes that Beijing 2022 is not only a spectacular sports gala, but an initiation of a wealth of Olympic legacies.
One year ago, Chinese sports heralded the year with successfully hosting the winter games and historic breakthroughs accomplished by China's ice and snow sports teams. Now, one year later, the wonder of ice and snow sports is marching on with both competitive and recreational ice/snow sports on fast track – a full use of the rich legacy of the winter games.
As a result of the inheritance of the venues' legacy, the craze for ice and snow sports is still gaining popularity. The Report says that the ambitious goal of "letting 300 million people into winter sports" has been achieved, and people across the country, especially the youth, have been greatly inspired to take part in winter sports, thus opening a new era of global winter sports.
After the winter games, the public-welfare functions of the venues are utilized, and they have become bridges between the public and ice/snow sports. Known as the "Ice Ribbon", the China National Speed Skating Oval is the only newly built ice competition venue. As the world's leading technology of carbon dioxide-based trans-critical direct cooling system to make ice, it's hailed as the "fastest ice" for races.
Since the first design drawing, relevant teams have taken into account post-games use of the venues at the same time of their construction. The "super brain" systems equipped in "Ice Ribbon" are based on Chinese technologies with self-generated intellectual property rights. Based on a series of technologies, the venue present a number of technological highlights in terms of hardware operation, maintenance and services. In addition to rich technological contents, it has also enabled sustainable operation and services for the public.
After the winter games, the "Ice Ribbon" has changed from the "fastest ice" to the "ice for the people" after reconfiguration. Not only the ice rinks that meet Olympic competition standards have been made open to the general public, professional training is also available for the public to further improve the efficiency of the venue and enrich their functions.
With the use of cultural heritage, the craze for popular creative products keeps bringing surprises. The sales popularity of cultural and creative products reflects the great charm of the Beijing Olympics Winter Games, and it also highlights China's ever increasing efforts to protect IPRs. During the Games, China strictly protected Olympic buzzwords including those of the mascots and sports players. For example, "Bing Dwen Dwen" has been put under protection as both an Olympic symbol and as a patent, a trademark and a copyright at the same time.
On December 28, 2022, the "Bing Dwen Dwen" family ushered in a new member, "Tu Dwen Dwen", which sparked another round of buying frenzy. The return of the mascot to the public in the form of a special edition of the Year of the Rabbit is the result of repeated communication and consultation between the Chinese Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee, and it enables the reuse of Olympic IPRs.
"Tu Dwen Dwen" was inspired by Beijing's traditional clay figurine of the rabbit. It not only carries forward the concept of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs, but also incorporates the local culture of Beijing. Its birth added some fun to the celebration of the first anniversary of the opening of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games, and it also sent good wishes to the Year of the Rabbit.
From the short supply of the mascot "Bing Dwen Dwen" to exciting moments of Chinese athletes winning the championship... memories of the Olympic Winter Games are not far away. On the new journey in the new era, China shares the fruits of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games with the rest of the world, and the wonderful story of ice and snow sports is still continuing.
Use of Equipment: Snow Wax Vehicle
Recently, China's first snow wax vehicle with self-reliant IPRs is unveiled on the Sunac Resort Plaza in Ji'nan, Shandong Province. The public can closely experience this cabin that served the Olympic Winter Games and feel the progress of domestic technologies in ice and snow equipment. During the Beijing Olympic Winter Games, the snow wax vehicle provided all-round services and guarantees for players, coaches and waxers during snowboard maintenance and warm-up.
Collection of Cultural Product: "Tu Dwen Dwen"
"Tu Dwen Dwen" is a special edition of the Beijing 2022 mascot "Bing Dwen Dwen", for the celebration of the Year of the Rabbit. It materializes a reuse of Olympic IPRs. Its design is based on the traditional Beijing folk image of the clay rabbit. Once released, it sparked a rush of purchase. Since their births, the IPRs of both "Bing Dwen Dwen" and "Tu Dwen Dwen" have been put under protection in a comprehensive manner.
Visit to the Olympic Venue: "Ice Ribbon"
The "Ice Ribbon", namely the China National Speed Skating Oval, uses the world's leading technology of carbon dioxide-based trans-critical direct cooling system to make ice, which is known as the "fastest ice" for racing. The "super brain" systems equipped in such venue are all based on Chinese technologies with independent intellectual property rights. The "Ice Ribbon" has now become the "ice for the people" that provides services for ordinary snow and ice lovers on a long-term basis.