Yanqing Paralympic Village pre-opens
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E-mail China.org.cn, February 24, 2022
The Paralympic Village located in Beijing's Yanqing district pre-opened on February 23, leaving working staff just 44 hours to completely convert it from an Olympic Village to a Paralympic Village.
The Yanqing Paralympic Village will officially open on February 25 and is expected to receive about 500 athletes and officials from over 30 delegates during the Paralympic Games.
Two of the main tasks during the transition period are landscape upgrading and barrier-free facility adjusting. The Olympic mascot Bing Dwen Dwen, which could be seen everywhere throughout the village have been replaced by the Paralympic mascot Shuey Rhon Rhon.
The width of the barrier-free check-in counters has been widened to 95 centimeters to make it wheelchair-accessible, said Lan Lirong, the village's barrier-free operations manager.
All 158 barrier-free rooms have been renovated to meet the demands of the disabled athletes, while the canteen will also be adjusted in time to allow for wheelchair users, lowering some tables and removing some seats to make more room.
Innovatively integrated into the Paralympic village, the ancient Xiaozhuangke village from the late Qing Dynasty will be a window that showcases China's ancient village culture to the world. A barrier-free ramp has been built at its viewing platform, drawing wheelchair users closer to Yanqing's history and culture.
