A media briefing was held on March 2 for the one-year countdown to the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. Preparatory work for the Games is advancing steadily according to the plan from venue planning and construction to competition organization, services, and sustainable post-Games legacy. It is announced that construction of five competition venues at the competition zones in downtown Beijing, Yanqing District and Zhangjiakou have been completed, while 25 non-competition venues will also be available successively this year.

Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games will be held next year from March 4 to March 13. According to Yang Jinkui, Director for Paralympic Games of the Beijing Organising Committee for 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,  further consideration have been taken in various sectors over the needs of paralympic athletes and accessibilities regarding the services for the Games.

Paralympic villages are all located near sports venues of the three competition areas for the convenience of athletes, with all facilities designed and built in line with the Beijing 2022 Accessibility Guidelines.

As for transportation, an agreement for transportation principles and services has been developed for stakeholders of the Games, with accessibility vehicles to be provided,  in line with accessibility requirements.

As for accommodation, 28 official hotels and one Paralympic Family Hotel have been designated for a total of 4,611 room reservations. Efforts are now underway to renovate hotel facilities for improved accessibility. As for catering, measures are in place to ensure a safe and sound supply of food and drink; venue catering service providers having been chosen; and venues are making sure that their dining facilities are all barrier-free. 

As for medical services, the particular requirements of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games have been taken into account - in terms of determining medical needs, setting up venue medical stations, and designing work flow. The Beijing 2022 Organising Committee will also ensure medical facilities and services for orthotic device and wheelchair maintenance.

According to Liu Yumin, Director for Venue Planning and Construction of the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee, accessibility facilities at all competition venues have been constructed in accordance with the IPC Accessibility Guide and Beijing 2022 Accessibility Guidelines. The Beijing 2022 Organising Committee is making full use of and improving existing barrier-free facilities while constructing new barrier-free facilities in a rational way focusing on post-Games sustainable use.

In addition, relevant departments of the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee have worked with host cities to conduct multiple field surveys and inspections of venues' barrier-free facilities. Designs for barrier-free operation have been improved according to the "differentiated approaches".

Liu added that experience gained in the construction of barrier-free facilities for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games will also help improve the standards, concept, and overall level of facilities for barrier-free urban construction in China.

 (Note: Content source is from CRI Online.)