Yes, humans can fly at new Winter Olympics venue (2)

Big Air Shougang is the only new outdoor venue built in the city for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Inspired by the Mogao Grottoes fresco Flying Apsaras, the ramp has been designed to resemble a ribbon floating in the air. Zhang Li, chief architect of Big Air Shougang and dean of the School of Architecture at Tsinghua University, said that the theme of the transformation of the industrial park－once a steel factory－is culture, sports and leisure.

"Building a permanent Olympic venue in the park expresses this theme perfectly," he said in a recent interview with China Central Television. "The sport features speed, lightness and freedom, and we've embedded those into its design as ribbons."

Liu Yuchuan, an official of the Big Air Shougang project, said: "During construction, we considered how to develop the venue after the Games. It can be used to host all sorts of events and provide training opportunities for young athletes."

It can also be a modern space for commercial exhibitions and shows, he added.

Construction was completed at the end of October 2019. The venue can be repurposed for aerial competitions in freestyle skiing.