China's self-developed bobsleigh in an exhibition showing China's achievements in scientific and technological innovation during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) in Beijing.（PHOTO : TANG Zhexiao）

By Staff Reporters

Science and technology innovation will play a vital role in the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, according to Wang Zhigang, Chinese minister of science and technology, who inspected the training centers and sports venues for the Games on October 10 and 11.

At the National Ice and Snow Sports Training and Research Base in Beijing on October 10, Wang tried out China's independently developed snowmobile, and checked the effect of wind tunnel training facilities and systems.

He then visited Shougang Park, one of 2022 Winter Olympics venues in Beijing, to inspect the operation of the ski jumping platform and smart technologies in the park, such as self-driving buses and the intelligent vehicle network, hailing the progress made in sci-tech innovation during the preparation.

On October 11, Wang toured four winter Olympics venues in Chongli, Hebei province. There he inspected the application of a number of innovative achievements, such as the construction technology of the racing track, reliability of the snowmaking function, 100 percent green electricity and reliability of the power supply.

According to concerned experts, 112 new technological achievements of 37 projects have been applied in the test competition, and 10 project groups have participated to help the national teams' training in freestyle aerials, ski jumping, biathlon, speed skating, ice hockey etc.

The countdown to the 2022 Olympic Winter Games has begun as the Olympic flame was ignited at the birthplace of the Games in Ancient Olympia in Greece, and arrived in Beijing on October 20, 2021.