MORE than 10 days into the Beijing Winter Olympics, many international athletes have high praise for their life in Beijing. “We’ve felt super safe with everything around COVID and I’m super grateful that these Games can happen,” said Vicky Persinger, an American curler. “The IOC has done an incredible job with COVID-19 [countermeasures] to make the Games so enjoyable and it’s been a really great experience,” echoed Australian snowboarder Tess Coady after finishing ninth in the women’s snowboard big air final Tuesday. Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, competition venues for the Winter Olympics have also won praise from a lot of participants. The National Speed Skating Oval, widely known as the Ice Ribbon, has been hailed as the “fastest ice” at sea level, where 10 Olympic and world records have been broken so far. Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi has already bagged three silvers in the women’s 500m, 1,500m and team pursuit in the Ice Ribbon. “It’s one of the best speed skating rinks in the world, and finally I can get a good result here to stand on the podium, I am very happy,” said Takagi. “We’re distant skaters, and I think we like the ice. Absolutely, it’s a beautiful oval,” said Canadian speed skater Isabelle Weidemann, who won a gold in the women’s team pursuit. As the only dual Olympic city in the world, Beijing has evoked athletes’ fond memories 14 years ago as well. Persinger said it was an honor to play at the National Aquatics Center, a swimming and diving venue at Beijing 2008. “We’re thinking about American Olympic history as we’re pulling up there,” said Persinger, referring to Michael Phelps’ record eight gold medals. Off the competition venues, athletes have been sharing their life in the athlete village on social media since their arrival, and restaurants where their appetites are satiated are among the most popular hashtags. A total of 678 dishes catering to various tastes and needs are offered at the three competition zones of Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou. Norwegian biathlete Filip Fjeld Andersen posted a video of plates filled with various food to answer the question from his fans that whether food is free. “Yes, all the food and drink is free! Probably [I’m] leaving this place 5kg heavier,” joked Andersen. (Xinhua) | 