Beijing puts 'petal' to metal for Paralympics

China's capital has begun fast and frenzied urban landscape transition work for the upcoming Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, which will kick off on Friday, said local authorities.

Work includes transition of nine themed public flower gardens, sculptured landscapes, 18,000 street banners and 60 posters promoting the sports gala, with the transition expected to be completed by Monday, said the city's office of urban operation and environmental protection group affiliated with the Games.

During the transition period, emblems and mascots that were previously installed for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games will be converted into or replaced by emblems and mascots for the Paralympic Games. Those applicable for both Games will remain unaltered.

"At the beginning of the urban landscape design for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, we had taken into account the needs of landscape transition between the two Games," said Guo Yanbo, an official with the office. "The paired design of emblems and mascots can help reduce the transition work."

Guo said: "Due to the characteristics of Beijing's windy winter climate, we have optimized the production process and installation method for street banners. Wind resistance and firmness of the banners will be enhanced using thicker materials."

Moreover, workers will plant colorful flowers resistant to winter's chill in nine flower gardens including along Chang'an Avenue and its connecting roadways, an expressway linking downtown Beijing and Beijing Capital International Airport, and in the National Olympic Sports Center area.

"We will remove the previous colorful flora located at Tian'anmen Square and then plant a total of 80,000 red and yellow flora," said Zhang Xianzhe, chief engineer at an urban landscape company in Beijing.

"We have carefully selected and cultivated 30 kinds of cold-resistant flowers for the city. During the cultivation process, we sprayed a cold-resistant compound on the flowers-just like giving them a layer of heat-preservation. After planting, once the city encounters cold weather, staff workers will also cover the flowers at night," Zhang said.

The spruced-up urban landscape for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be maintained until March 20, the office said.

Meanwhile, similar preparations are underway at the Olympic Village the in co-host city Zhangjiakou, Hebei province.

Paralympics Winter Games emblems have been posted on some buildings in the village and a wheelchair repair center is under construction in a temporary building at the entrance to the village, Xinhua News Agency reported.

During the transition period, the village will carry out comprehensive inspection of barrier-free facilities and equipment, and install necessary Braille signage.

Staff workers will also adjust some services to ensure barrier-free facilities in the village.

The village, some 239,000 square meters, will officially begin serving the Paralympic Winter Games on Sunday and is expected to receive around 700 athletes and officials from around the world.