<p>On the 4th February the world watched Beijing celebrated the start of the 2022 Winter Olympics as the world’s first dual Olympic city. The only new permanent venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, the National Speed Skating Oval or the ‘Ice Ribbon’, were unveiled under Olympic lights for the first time since its completion in 2021.</p><p>The 12,000 seat venue hosts the speed skating events and will award 14 gold medals. Designed as a spectacular new landmark by global sports architecture firm Populous, after winning an international design competition, the ‘Ice Ribbon’ was created as a symbol of Chinese cultural heritage that celebrates the elegance, precision, pace and dynamic of speed skating.</p><p>From its Asia Pacific headquarters in Brisbane, Populous managed a multitude of stakeholders across five countries and three offices to win the rigorous design competition over 60 other firms. The win recognised Populous’ unparalleled Olympic experience and their involvement in their 14th Olympic Games, both summer and winter.</p>
<p>On the 4th February the world watched Beijing celebrated the start of the 2022 Winter Olympics as the world’s first dual Olympic city. The only new permanent venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, the National Speed Skating Oval or the ‘Ice Ribbon’, were unveiled under Olympic lights for the first time since its completion in 2021.</p><p>The 12,000 seat venue hosts the speed skating events and will award 14 gold medals. Designed as a spectacular new landmark by global sports architecture firm Populous, after winning an international design competition, the ‘Ice Ribbon’ was created as a symbol of Chinese cultural heritage that celebrates the elegance, precision, pace and dynamic of speed skating.</p><p>From its Asia Pacific headquarters in Brisbane, Populous managed a multitude of stakeholders across five countries and three offices to win the rigorous design competition over 60 other firms. The win recognised Populous’ unparalleled Olympic experience and their involvement in their 14th Olympic Games, both summer and winter.</p>
