Heilongjiang all set to host 9th Winter Games

With 15 days to go until the 9th Asian Winter Games, all preparations for the event have been fully implemented, according to the organizing committee.

"Harbin sincerely invites guests from all over the world to attend this sports and cultural feast, share the passion of the Asian Winter Games, and experience the charm of ice and snow in Harbin," Zhang Haihua, deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee, deputy director of the executive committee, and deputy mayor of Harbin, said at a news conference.

The Games, set to open on Feb 7, will feature the largest representation of Asian countries and regions to date, with more than 1,270 athletes from 34 countries and regions.

The first competition will take place on Feb 3, with China's team making its debut on Feb 4. The first gold medal will be awarded on the morning of Feb 8.

All 13 competition venues, including five ice-sports facilities in downtown Harbin and eight snow-event venues in Yabuli, 200 kilometers from the city, have passed safety tests and meet environmental protection standards after renovations and equipment upgrades.

"Since October 2024, we have held 17 trial events across all venues and competition disciplines," said Zhuang Shichao, deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee and deputy director of the executive committee, who is also the deputy director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Sports Bureau.

"These trial events allowed us to comprehensively assess venue operations, equipment and facilities, security, and command and dispatch systems," Zhuang said. "We have improved emergency plans, conducted regular drills and established protocols for rapid responses to emergencies.

"To enhance meteorological support, we have created a professional team equipped with automated monitoring tools, ensuring precise forecasting services to guarantee the smooth running of the Games," he added.

Financial infrastructure has also been bolstered to support the event. Zhang noted that a financial payment service guarantee system has been developed with diverse payment methods, extensive application scenarios and secure operations.

The Heilongjiang branch of the People's Bank of China has partnered with institutions like Bank of China and Harbin Bank to improve payment systems. Thirteen foreign exchange agencies, one foreign currency exchange machine and 23 ATMs have been installed at competition venues, offering card services for all transactions within the venues.