Bai Zhiguo, a deputy secretary general and chief spokesperson of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 Organising Committee (HAWGOC), speaks at a press conference jointly held by the OCA and HAWGOC in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]
All preparations for the Opening Ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games are fully ready, said the Organising Committee on Thursday.
The Games will be held from Feb 7 to 14.
"After more than 10 full-process rehearsals and three full-element drills, the music, videos, special effects, program arrangements, and overall coordination of the ceremony have been optimised," Bai Zhiguo, a deputy secretary general and chief spokesperson of the Organising Committee, said at a press conference in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, on Thursday. "We have arranged 50 ushers and over 600 volunteers inside the venue to provide services to spectators in need."
For transportation services, around 300 vehicles will be provided to offer collective transportation services from hotels to the Opening Ceremony venue for various participants, and high-speed rail special trains will be provided for those attending the Opening Ceremony from Yabuli, the ski resort cluster hosting the snow sports of the Games.
"A professional medical team has been established, with 2 medical rooms, 4 medical stations, and 8 spectators medical points set up to cover the entire venue, equipped with ambulances, stretchers, medicines, and equipment," said Bai. "A green channel for medical treatment has been opened at designated hospitals."
According to Zhou Wei, Deputy Director of the Organising Committee's Ceremonies & Events Department, the Opening Ceremony will last about 80 minutes.
"As this year's Games will see the largest representation of Asian countries and regions in history, there will be representatives from 34 countries and regions across Asia taking part in the parade during the Opening Ceremony to show themselves to the world," said Zhou. "In a creative approach, the Opening Ceremony will take place simultaneously at the main venue and a sub-venue—the main venue is set at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Centre, while the sub-venue is located at the renowned Harbin Ice and Snow World, the largest ice and snow theme park in the world."
"This winter, the Harbin Ice and Snow World has specially designed a themed ice and snow park featuring representative buildings from Asian countries and regions, which will be synchronised with the performances at the main venue to evoke empathy and resonance among the people of Asia."
"Particularly, the highly creative and distinctive Cauldron Lighting Ceremony is expected to astonish the world," he said.
Furthermore, the gala performances at the Opening Ceremony make full use of advanced technological means to create a visually stunning experience, such as virtual and augmented reality, glasses-free 3D technology, digital AI, and other visual effects.
Along with equipment such as facade screens, digital ground screens, and light art projection screens, the ceremony must create an immersive panoramic space, Zhou added.