People play curling at the "Ice Cube" in Beijing on April 16, 2022. Photo: Li Hao/GT

One month after the closing of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the National Aquatics Center, the venue for curling during the Games, officially opened to the public on Friday. On Saturday, some 2,000 Beijingers visited the "dual-Olympic" venue to experience curling and the legacy of the two Games.

The venue, also known as "Ice Cube," kept the authentic scenes of the Winter Olympics, including the competition area, media stands, mixing area, athletes' locker room and podium, providing a "full-scene" experience of the Winter Olympics atmosphere.

Global Times reporters joined the crowd coming to experience the event live for the first time. As soon as the "Ice Cube" opened for business on Saturday morning, there were many spectators who couldn't wait to get in, many of whom were parents with children.

"It's such a rare opportunity to step onto an Olympic track!" a ­spectator told the Global Times on site.

Many of the children lined up to step onto the top level curling track and were led by coaches in launching a curling stone. Getting off the track, they went on to experience the podium, locker room, medical room and other facilities.

"Through the Winter Olympics, I can clearly feel the increased enthusiasm for winter sports around me," another spectator told the Global Times. "Sports such as curling have less exposure to the general public in China, so I hope more people will come to the site to experience the fun of participation."

Venue operators told the Global Times that after the Winter Paralympic Games, the operations team have just finished close-loop management and health monitoring, and opened the venue to the public at the first opportunity. The venue retains all the features used during the Winter Olympic Games, with the aim of recreating an immersive Winter Olympic experience for the public.

Yang Qiyong, the venue manager, told the Global Times that in May the Ice Cube will also hold citywide curling events. In June, the venue will undergo another water-ice conversion. The curling track will be transformed into a swimming pool for international swimming and diving tournaments. The public can also come to the swimming pool for summer water recreation activities.

People play curling at the "Ice Cube" in Beijing on April 16, 2022. Photo: Li Hao/GT

The price of tickets sold by the "Ice Cube" for the tour and curling experience was 90 yuan ($14), no increase from the previous ticket cost. Besides, special groups such as seniors and students enjoy a discounted ticket price of 75 yuan.

During the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the "Ice Cube" held 206 curling and wheelchair curling competitions, welcoming a total of 15,800 spectators. It has witnessed the glorious moment of curling teams winning gold, and also the highlight moment of the Chinese wheelchair curling team defending the gold medal at the Winter Paralympics.

As the largest curling venue in the history of the Winter Olympics, "Ice Cube" is the only dual-Olympic venue in the world that can run water and ice events at the same time, and it is also the first Olympic venue to set up a curling track on a swimming pool. The rapid water-ice conversion is one of its highlighted features known to the world. 

"At present, our technology of water-ice conversion is very mature, with the cost of conversion at 100,000 to 200,000 yuan," Yang said. "Economically speaking, there is not much pressure. The main consideration is the cost of time." 

In the future, the water-ice conversion of the main pitch is expected to take place once a year. Another curling training venue will be reserved for the public to explore this relatively niche ice sport on a long-term basis.

"We hope to attract more curling enthusiasts to come to the Ice Center for training and continued improvement of the sport," Yang said.

In 2008, the venue was home to the swimming, diving and synchronized swimming competitions at the Beijing Summer Olympics. Yang said he hopes spectators will be able to get up close and personal with the atmosphere of dual Olympics in the venue.

"In creating the 2022 Winter Olympic legacy experience, we can't do any damage to the 2008 legacy," he said. "The core of everything is sustainability."

Yang, who is also in charge of the sustainable use of the venue in 2008, said that post-Games experiences for public were not rich back in 2008. 

"At that time, it was mainly the public pushing us around, and we didn't think much about it in terms of content."

For further post-competition use 14 years later, the "Ice Cube" will no longer be limited to "letting the public see the arena."

"We want to add designs, add details, and build a brand that belongs to the arena," Yang said. 

"We will work to further enhance the experience of visiting and strengthen the public's engagement."