Olympic Construction is On Schedule, but the Coronavirus Could Still Impact 2022

In OlymPicks, we highlight news, gossip, and developments regarding the buildup to Beijing's 2022 Winter Olympics.

As Shinzo Abe remains steadfast in his position that this July’s Tokyo Summer Olympics won't be affected by the spread of the coronavirus around the world, likewise, the construction of Beijing’s Olympic facilities continues to progress at a cracking pace. Construction sites are predominantly situated in Zhangjiakou, where the 2022 snow and ski events will be held. A total of 36 sites have already been completed there, and the remaining 40 will be completed by year-end, including the National Ski Jump Center and the Zhangjiakou Olympic Village.

In Yanqing District, the site that will host the bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge events, the installation of its ice production equipment was completed in just ten days. Dubbed the National Sliding Center, the 60,000sqm facility situated on the side of Xiaohaituo Mountain is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Its track will carry Olympians along 1.9 kilometers of ice, landing them 120 meters below the starting line.

Contractors were able to circumvent issues caused by the epidemic by utilizing a number of creative solutions. Though the construction process was not completely without human labor, remote control was used in the latter stages of installation in order to reduce contact between workers and simultaneously debug the refrigeration system.

However, construction is not the only cog in the Olympic machine to be jammed by a coronavirus wrench. The first round of test competitions, due to put the new Olympic facilities through its paces, have been canceled in order to protect the health of the athletes. According to Olympic policy, the tests must be held no less than 10 months prior to the event, so Beijing still has plenty of time.

While things are well on schedule in Beijing, there is no telling how preparation and will be affected in other parts of the world as the coronavirus makes its way around the globe. Top Winter Olympic champion countries are already feeling the impact as Canada cancels major events in curling and hockey and Norway cancels skiing events.

READ: New Winter Olympic Museum Design Revealed, Russia Banned From 2022

Image: Beijing Toutiao, China.org