Bizarre aerial view of Olympic sports venue shows China madness: "Seriously, what are we doing here?"
Created: 02/10/2022, 08:14
By: Marius Epp
Image that takes some getting used to: A ski jump in an industrial park in Beijing.
© Jae C. Hong/dpa
The "Big Air" competitions in freestyle skiing took place in the middle of a Chinese industrial area.
The bizarre Olympic scenery goes around the world.
Beijing - After five days of the Beijing Olympics, spectators have already seen some bizarre things.
Be it the pompous opening ceremony, be it the white strip of snow that runs through the bare mountains of Yanqing as the venue for the alpine skiing competitions - it's all somehow strange.
But a backdrop seems to top it all off.
For the first time ever, Olympic medals will be awarded in the Big Air freestyle discipline.
Fearless athletes jump off a gigantic jump on skis and snowboards and show breathtaking tricks.
Video: Forgotten Olympic Sites
Olympia: Converted steel mill becomes a winter sports location
A converted steel mill in an industrial area of Beijing served as the venue for the spectacular competition.
In the midst of gray chimneys and all sorts of not very attractive buildings, the white giant ski jump towers, which doesn't fit into the overall picture at all.
Photos of the rather bizarre sight quickly circulated all over the internet.
"Seriously, what are we doing here?" Asks a Twitter user, aghast.
Some make fun of the fact that it looks like the hill was photoshopped into the area.
"But no, that's real."
But it shouldn't go unmentioned: The Big Air ski jump in Beijing is probably more sustainable than most of the others of its kind.
Although the winter panorama is completely missing, the Chinese organizers wanted to set an example for sustainability when building the sports facility.
A steelworks that was no longer needed was quickly converted into a multifunctional location.
Olympia: Big Air ski jump as if from a “virtual world”
In addition to the world's first permanent Big Air facility in a city, there are shops, offices and a museum.
Concerts and dance events are to take place there in the summer.
Some athletes even certify the location as having a special flair.
Freestyler Nick Goepper compared the place to a "virtual world".
also read
China's Winter Games: New ski facilities between sustainability and gigantism - "it's amazing"
Beijing wants to organize the green winter games if possible.
Olympic sites from 2008 will be used again, and the sports facilities will be supplied with green electricity.
But the contradictions are great, the construction effort is gigantic.
China's Winter Games: New ski facilities between sustainability and gigantism - "it's amazing"
The second vaccination campaign by Brucker Vhs is also a success
Fürstenfeldbruck – The Gretl-Bauer adult education center in Fürstenfeldbruck is very satisfied with the course of the second vaccination day in the adult education center building.
On Wednesday, December 29th, 271 people were boosted within five hours.
The second vaccination campaign by Brucker Vhs is also a success
"If something like this is sustainable enough to replicate around the world, that would be super cool.
That brings the sport closer to the people.” Incidentally, in front of the eyes of IOC President Thomas Bach, a Chinese woman secured the Olympic victory in the women's event: Eileen Gu made history with her gold medal.
The 20-year-old model has only started for China in 2019, she lives with her family in the USA.
A 30-year-old from Munich has the chance of a medal in the slalom.
(epp)
