Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics mascot Shuey Rhon Rhon Photo: cnsphoto
Each of the three Winter Paralympic Villages in Beijing and Zhangjiakou, North China’s Hebei Province have traditional Chinese lantern-inspired ornamentation symbolizing prosperity and peace during the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games.
An unveiling ceremony on Tuesday was attended by the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Yang Shu’an, vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee.
Named as “light of harmony,” the decorations are 2.6 meters high and 6 meters in diameter. They are made of metal and have the Beijing Winter Paralympics logo on them.
The design is inspired by traditional Chinese lanterns, which symbolize family reunion. It is made up of six Chinese dragon-shaped pillars intertwined in the shape of a lantern, symbolizing an environment of peace and harmony.
All the athletes and team officials staying in the Winter Paralympic Village will have the chance to sign on the surface of the decorations during the Games.
As of February 28, all the Beijing 2022 venues from competition venues to the Winter Olympic Villages have been converted to accommodate athletes for the Winter Paralympic Games.
The management team of the athletes’ villages seeks to provide a “feel-at-home” experience, and the barrier-free facilities inside the rooms are built to be accessible for all athletes.
The beds are 10 centimeters lower than those for the Winter Olympics, which makes it more convenient for wheelchair users to get in and out of bed freely. The popular Bing Dwen Dwen pillows have also been replaced by ones featuring the Paralympic mascot Shuey Rhon Rhon.
In addition, the fitness centers, entertainment centers and public squares inside the Winter Villages have also undergone many changes to incorporate temporary barrier-free facilities, such as a wheelchair dining area inside each restaurant and a wheelchair and prosthesis repair center in each of the public squares.
A total of 640 barrier-free shuttles are ready and waiting to transport athletes to events.