OlymPicks: Indoor Stadium Seeks New Nickname, Woman General Inspires Torch Runner Uniform
Geek out on winter gear at World Winter Sports Expo this weekend
Beijing’s Shougang (you know, the old steel factory on the city’s west side that is now a multi-use facility and also where the Big Air ski events will be taking place) will host the World Winter Sports Expo this weekend, and the exhibition halls will be open to the public on Sep 5-7 from 9am to 5pm.
Though the expo is mostly a professional event, winter sports fans can geek out on everything from displays of pro-level alpine technology to winter tourism promotion to personal outdoor equipment.
Stadium seeks new nickname, for some reason
The National Indoor Stadium was built for the 2008 Olympics, but like so of Beijing’s Olympic buildings of yesteryear, it has been revamped for the 2022 games, in particular, to host the hockey competitions.
Up to now, the building has been best known as “the Fan” due to its resemblance to a traditional folding fan. But with its new makeover, the city wants to give it a new nickname to go along!
Is this an unnecessary rebranding stunt? Perhaps. But nonetheless, Olympic fans took to Weibo to give their suggestions.
A couple of the top upvoted suggestions include 广寒宫 guǎng hán gong (Palace of Vast Winter, 小冰鲸 xiǎo bīngjīng (Little Ice Whale), and 冰鸾 bīng luán (Ice Luan, referring to a mythical bird that’s something like a cross between a phoenix and peacock.)
However, one comment suggested that any new nickname should not include words like “ice,” “snow,” or “winter,” as the facility will also continue to be used in the summertime. Of course, other facilities like the Water Cube have rebranded as the Ice Cube for the games, so don’t be surprised if this advice goes unheeded.
Torch carriers to sport woman general-inspired clothing
It was revealed last week that the torch carriers for the 2022 games will wear uniforms with a design inspired by the combat robes of Qin Liangyu, the 15th-century female general known for defending the Ming Dynasty.
The uniforms are white with orange sleeves that feature a phoenix design taken from the general’s robes.
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Images: China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Weibo
