The National Speed Skating Oval, also known as the "Ice Ribbon", in Beijing, Dec. 31, 2019. Construction of the venue is progressing as scheduled. It is expected to host test events in June 2020 for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Beijing will speed up construction of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Village and other non-competition venues, and supporting infrastructure such as transport, meteorological and security facilities.

BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Beijing is gearing up preparations for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and will complete construction of all competition venues in 2020, Mayor Chen Jining said Sunday.

The city will also speed up construction of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Village and other non-competition venues, and supporting infrastructure such as transport, meteorological and security facilities, Chen noted.

The Shougang ski jumping platform in Beijing, Dec. 14, 2019. As the first newly built competition venue for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, the Shougang ski jumping platform is like "crystal shoe". It consists of three parts: the track, the referee's desk, and the stand area. The track is 164 meters long, 34 meters wide at the widest and 60 meters high at the highest point. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

In his government work report delivered at the ongoing annual session of the municipal people's congress, the mayor said the city will facilitate the development of underlying technologies and the construction of their application scenarios for a "High-tech Olympics."

The Beijing International Olympics Academy will open this year, and the city plans to provide support to Olympic education and winter sports model schools, engaging more people in ice and snow sports. ■