Xinhua News Agency, Harbin, February 4 (Reporters Yang Siqi and Dai Jinrong) On the 4th, the 9th Asian Winter Games curling competition started at the Curling Hall in the Bungalow District of Harbin. Among the venues for this event, this curling hall is "special".

"This is the first ice hockey hall in the country's primary school campus. In accordance with the requirements of the Asian Winter Games, it has been renovated and upgraded on the original basis." said Xu Jingming, director of the curling hall in the Asian Winter Games Bungalow Area.

This is the Curling Hall in Pingfang District, Harbin City taken on January 21 (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Song

This primary school is called Nancheng No. 1 Primary School. Its predecessor was Xinhua Primary School and was built in 1956. With the development of ice hockey in China, Xinhua Primary School established a women's ice hockey team in 2002. In 2017, the first ice hockey hall in the country built in primary schools was officially completed.

This venue covers an area of ​​17,111.5 square meters, and the facilities in the museum meet the standards for hosting international events. In 2019, the school was renamed Nancheng No. 1 Primary School. The school’s ice hockey team has achieved excellent results in competitions at all levels, and a group of outstanding athletes have emerged.

"Many children have been training on the ice rink since childhood, day after day, year after year, this is the inheritance of the spirit of ice and snow sports, and it is also the interweaving of dreams and glory." said Li Yanfeng, vice principal of Nancheng No. 1 Primary School.

Harbin City’s basic school for training ice and snow reserve talents, a reserve talent training base for the Chinese women’s ice hockey team, a national campus ice and snow sports specialty school... Physical education has made this primary school famous and was awarded the title of “Cradle of Ice Hockey” by the China Ice Hockey Association in 2023.

According to statistics, since 2000, the Pingfang District has trained 266 ice hockey players for national, provincial and municipal teams, of which 68 have been selected for the national team. Among the ice hockey teams of Harbin Sports School, 30% of the players come from the bungalow area.

In March 2024, this hockey hall was identified as the curling venue for the Asian Winter Games. According to the design plan, more than 100 construction workers, including professional engineers, entered the site one after another, and the ground was newly built, decorated, broadcast sound augmented, sports lighting... After more than 180 days of busyness, the venue construction team and the operation team completed the handover.

On February 4, Chinese team player Han Yu (left) communicated with his teammate Wang Zhiyu during the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Han

During the Asian Winter Games curling competition, 126 venue staff and more than 300 volunteers provided service guarantees for Chinese and foreign athletes and guests.

On the same day, the Chinese team's Han Yu/Wang Zhiyu ushered in a "good start" in the mixed doubles competition. Wang Zhiyu said in an interview after the game: "This venue built in elementary school deeply touched me, especially the hand-painted works posted in the school, which made me feel that children now have a deep understanding and understanding of ice and snow sports. I hope that more and more children like ice and snow sports and participate in it."

In the bungalow area, there are many stories about ice and snow sports, and they will continue. Generations of teachers and students are relaying on the ice, and the deep integration of sports and education... This is the confidence to host international events well and a microcosm of the vigorous development of China's ice and snow sports in recent years. (End)