Hosted by Beijing National Alpine Skiing Co., Ltd. and funded by the Beijing Olympic City Development Foundation, a study programme for middle school students was launched in the Olympic Village of Yanqing Olympic Park on 1 March 2025, with the theme of “Carry Forward the Spirit of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Embrace Ice and Snow for a Shared Future”. The launch ceremony was attended by Wei Dengfan, Secretary-General of the Beijing Olympic City Development Foundation, Zhang Wenhua, Assistant General Manager of Beijing Enterprises Group, Li Yitao, Chairman of Beijing National Alpine Skiing Co., Ltd., and He Jianxiong, Party Secretary of Beijing Academy, along with more than 100 teachers and students from Beijing Academy.

(Launch ceremony)

Addressing the ceremony, Wei Dengfan said that the Beijing Olympic City Development Foundation is exploring the innovative model of “Ice and Snow Plus Education”. Through a diverse range of Olympic themed activities, this model aims to break the limitations of traditional classrooms and promote the deep integration of sustainable use of the Winter Olympic legacy and youth Olympic education to form a replicable and sustainable “post-Olympic” development model and build a closed loop integrating school education and social practice. This helps ensure that the legacy is used to the utmost and also contributes to the popularisation and development of winter sports after the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

At the ceremony, Zhang Wenhua and Li Yitao shared the smart operation experience and blueprint of Yanqing Olympic Park, revolving around such topics as “Ice and Snow Plus” industrial innovation and sustainable use of the Winter Olympic venues. They hoped that the study programme could further promote all sectors of society to care for and support youth sports and cultural education and contribute to nurturing a new generation of capable young people with the moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigour, aesthetic sensibility, and work skills needed to join and carry on the socialist cause. In his speech, He Jianxiong thanked the host for building a great platform for in-depth dialogue between students and Winter Olympic culture. Focusing on carrying forward the spirit of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, students are given opportunity to engage in winter sports and take study tours to the Winter Olympic venues, so they can learn the value of perseverance through winter sports and become a new generation of youth with both vision and resilience.

The students from Beijing Academy were eager to participate in the colourful activities after the ceremony. At the National Sliding Centre, dubbed the “Flying Snow Dragon”, the students wearing professional gear revelled in the thrill of speed and passion of skeleton in the ice house, feeling the unique charm of winter sports. Afterwards, they took the cable car to the National Alpine Skiing Centre, where the guide told them inspiring stories about snowmaking and introduced the cutting-edge technology behind winter sports. At the culture exhibition hall of Yanqing Olympic Village, they were immersed in a themed lecture on the spirit of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, feeling as though they were traveling through a time tunnel to engage in a dialogue with the Games. Therefore, they gained a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the spirit of the Games. In addition, they took photos on the Olympian Goddess Square, capturing memorable moments with a camera.

(Students participate in the study programme)

(Students participate in the study programme)

(Students participate in the study programme)

A student representative from Beijing Academy said, “This programme allows me to get up close with the Winter Olympic venues and winter sports, which are really amazing. I have experienced the speed and passion of sliding on the track in the ice house and felt the unique charm of winter sports. I am truly grateful for this opportunity that has given me a deeper understanding of the spirit of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.”

It is learned that the study programme for middle school students is divided into five phases, each composed of three key aspects – acquiring knowledge about the Winter Olympics, experiencing winter sports and visiting Winter Olympic venues. Through lively and attractive ice and snow themed education, this programme aims to guide middle school students to explore the essence and value of the spirit of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and inspire their interest and enthusiasm for winter sports. Next month, more than 100 teachers and students from four schools including Tsinghua University High School, The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China and Yanqing No. 1 Middle School will together set out on the fantastic study programme featuring education, hands-on practice and cultural communication.