GenZ Int'l Youth Newscasters of Hangzhou Asian Games had a profound experience at the venues Photo: Zhao Chenyang
By Jin Yingying, Zhu Jingning
"Two Games, Equal Splendor!" As the 19th Asian Games hangzhou and the 4th Asian Para Games are just around the corner, what do high-level accessible venues look like? How is the preparation going with the national teams?
The GenZ Int'l Youth Newscasters of the Hangzhou Asian Games recently explored two Asian Para Games competition venues, namely the China Goalball Training Base and the Hangzhou Wenhu School Lawn Bowls Green, to which students from Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou Normal University and Hangzhou Wahaha Bilingual School undertook an unforgettable journey.
"It showed me a wider world"
The China Women's Goalball Team emerged as champions at the 2023 IBSA World Games on Aug 27. This victory also secured their qualification for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, marking the team's consecutive two-time championship in this event. All the six members of the Chinese team hail from the China Goalball Training Base in Hangzhou's Linping district. The venue will be the epicenter for goalball games during the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Para Games, boasting its top-notch accessible facilities.
"Very happy! This is the best representation for all of us who have trained for this competition over the years," said Xu Miao, center forward of China Women's Goalball Team, candidly expressing her feelings to Alvaro Gonzalo, an Argentine member of the Newscasters team.
Originally from northeastern China, Xu had only vague vision in her childhood. As she grew older, she gradually lost her vision. Xu first encountered goalball during a school physical education class where she was attracted by a blue ball in the cabinet, which made a sound when shaken, sparking her curiosity. Xu joined the Zhejiang team at the age of 14. She said that goalball made her "see" a broader world and changed her life, enabling her to compete for national glory which had become a source of pride for her family.
The spacious gymnasium echoed the sound of the ball bouncing against the athletes' bodies and colliding with the floor. In the China Goalball Training Base, the young male team members were fully devoted to their daily training. Although most of them did not make it to the Asian Para Games, the young men were spirited and enthusiastically refining their technical skills.
Mdini Maria, a Moroccan sports fan, gained a completely new understanding of the game, which combines the characteristics of basketball, soccer, and bowling. "It's not heavy, but mastering the knack of throwing is not easy." In her experience, Maria first focused on auditory perception. "My young coach always asked me to carefully listen to the bell inside the lawn bowl before each shot, and my hearing was greatly exercised. Then I learned the shooting action and completed the training of the shooting steps under the guidance of the coach!"
Asian Games gains high expectations
In preparation for the Asian Para Games in October, 15 members of the China national team have already been training at Hangzhou Wenhui School Lawn Bowls Green for over two months. During the youth newscasters' visit to the field in the early afternoon, the athletes demonstrated remarkable vigor under the guidance of their coach Liu Guoqiang, continuing their training from afternoon to the evening.
Some of these athletes have physical disabilities, while others have visual impairments. For the visually impaired athletes, each time when they throw a ball, the coach makes a sound, enabling them to discern the direction of the ball through auditory cues. Additionally, the coach will inform them of the distance of their casts, allowing them to adjust their strength.
The newscasters, having witnessed the national team's training session, was deeply impressed by the athletes' outstanding techniques.
"Despite their visual impairments, the athletes displayed astonishing precision and accuracy in throwing. Their tactile sense, focus, and coordination are incredibly impressive," said Marie Anne Lise Ahnuck Chee Man Shing, a member of the reporting team from Mauritius.
Liu explained the rules to the newscasters and introduced the balls used in the game. Interestingly, they are not spherical but rather asymmetrical, with a slight weight imbalance as the center of gravity is offset.
"The curvature of the two sides of the ball are different. One side is bigger, and the other smaller," said Liu while demonstrating the throw. "You see, after a long-distance roll over time, the ball will turn towards the side with a smaller curvature."
"That's it, that's it! You can tell it's a good throw as soon as it leaves your hand!" Liu applauded as Tangsholpan Muratbek, a student from Kazakhstan, made her first throw.
"Watching a lawn bowls game is like witnessing a captivating dance between precision and strategy, as the smooth green surface becomes a stage for skillful players to showcase their mastery. The gentle roll of the bowls, guided by expert hands, whisper secrets of control, accuracy, and finesse. Each shot is an artful calculation, as players carefully assess the terrain, contemplate angles, and envision the trajectory, aiming to outmaneuver opponents and secure victory." Tangsholpan exclaimed after the tour.
Love without barriers
The Hangzhou Asian Para Games venues prioritize accessibility.
The China Goalball Training Base, established in 2005, is designated as the venue for the goalball competition of the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. The facility consists of two competition fields, two training fields, and encompasses a total construction area of approximately 16,000 m².
From the automatic induction voice broadcaster in the lobby, the arc-treated table, chairs, wall corners, to the accessible restrooms inside and outside the competition venue, the guide dog rest area, and the accessible lifting platform...every corner of the venue is a reflection of delicate consideration given to the Para Asian Games.
"As an independent competition venue for the Games, the accessibility transformation of the goalball venue focuses more on the various needs of disabled athletes," said Zhang Liming, deputy director of the venue facilities operation of the base.
The Hangzhou Wenhui School Lawn Bowls Green stands as the inaugural competition venue transformed from a basic education primary school playground in the history of the Asian Para Games. The field, measuring 40 meters in both length and width, features a total of 16 competition lanes, along with comprehensive accessibility pathways and facilities catering to the needs of Para athletes.
The accessible facilities there also stand out. The venue has 17 accessible ramps, 3 accessible toilets, 8 accessible toilet stalls, 1 accessible lift, and 6 accessible parking spaces, so athletes and people in need can travel freely throughout the venue. To comprehensively promote the construction of a barrier-free environment for information exchange, the venue took the lead in constructing an accessible voice-interactive toilet to make toileting smarter and safer for the visually impaired.