Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 11th: the countdown device pays tribute to the mascot of “the city of double olympics” entering the stage of deepening and revising — interview gao tian
the vice minister of cultural activities department of beijing winter olympic organizing committee xinhua news agency reporter yang fanji ye
on the occasion of the 1000-day countdown of beijing winter olympic games, gao Tian, vice minister of cultural activities department of Beijing Organizing Committee for winter and Olympic Games, accepted an interview with Xinhua News Agency on topics of concern such as the creativity and design of Countdown devices and the collection of mascots for Winter Olympics.
“Setting up countdown device is the practice of previous Olympic Games. Setting up the countdown device of Beijing Winter Olympic Games in the central area of Olympic Park is our reuse of 2008 Olympic cultural heritage.” Gao Tian said that this is also a symbol of Beijing’s “double Olympics city”. The establishment of the device always reminds us that the Winter Olympics is coming towards us, and our preparation work cannot be stopped for a moment, one step can’t be wrong, one day can’t be wrong, and one must seize every minute.
Gao Tian introduced that during the 2022beijing Winter Olympics, the central area of the Olympic Park will gather “Water Cube”, National Stadium, “Ice Ribbon” and other winter Olympics competition venues, the main news center of the Winter Olympics, the cultural activity exhibition center will also be located in this area. At that time, it will become the core area of the Winter Olympics and the Winter Paralympic Games, as well as the new landmark of the capital Beijing.
The Countdown device is built on the Ling Long Pagoda in the central area of the Olympic Park. Ling Long Pagoda is the TV broadcasting facility of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, which is divided into 7 floors with a total height of 132 meters. The countdown device is built on the 4-7th floor of the south side of the Ling Long Pagoda Tower, which is an LED screen display with a total area of 976.2 square meters.
Why is it Ling Long Pagoda? “Ling Long Pagoda is unique in its own shape, and its structure is built like multiple hourglass, which can embody the concept of ‘time’. The device is built here, which is consistent with the countdown concept.” Gao Tian said that the countdown device will be placed here, and then it can be clearly seen from the surrounding venues and main roads, echoing with Olympic venues such as “Bird’s Nest” and “Water Cube”, forming a distinctive Olympic theme landscape.
Gao Tian revealed that the countdown display screen after lighting is from top to bottom: Beijing Winter Olympics emblem, Countdown text and Countdown number. Countdown device display system is independently researched and developed by our country, which reflects the new achievements of scientific and technological development in this field in China and conforms to the concept of science and technology Olympics.
“The arrival of the 1000-day countdown to the Beijing Winter Olympics marks that the preparation work is about to enter a critical stage. Next, we will hold theme cultural activities in combination with the major time nodes organized by the Winter Olympics.” Gao Tian said that both the International Olympic Day on June 23 and the National Fitness Day on August 8 will hold activities to promote the green, shared, open and honest Olympic concept, and inspire the general public to support the Winter Olympics, enthusiasm for participating in the Winter Olympics.
The mascot of an Olympic Games has always been of great concern to the society. Gao Tian introduced that the mascot design scheme of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympic Games began to be collected on August 8, 2018 and received more than 5,000 works. At present, the design plan has entered the stage of deepening and revising, and it is planned to be officially released to the public in the second half of the year.
The reporter learned from the interview that in the next stage, the Beijing Winter Olympic organizing committee will begin to collect Olympic songs, Olympic slogans, related sports icons, medals and torches. “We will also cooperate with the cultural department and relevant organizations of the International Olympic Committee to carry out the artistic creation competition on the theme of Winter Olympics. These results will be displayed intensively during the competition.” Gao Tian said.