The Olympics is where athletes compete for medals, and also where media outlets around the world compete for news. As the media headquarters and the competition arena of journalists, the Main Media Center (MMC) in the China National Convention Center Phase II has been put into operation by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS). During the Games, the venues will be under intelligent operations, with a smart COVID-19 response platform and various service robots working 24/7 for journalists and rights-holding broadcasters around the world.

The “Flying bird” image symbolizing harmonious relations with nature

With a total floor area of about 419,000 square meters, the main structure of China National Convention Center Phase II is the largest newly built compound in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics. It is expected to host more than 3,000 journalists and photojournalists and 12,000 broadcasting crew members from more than 200 broadcasters during the Games. It is not only an international news-editorial department and TV signal production and transmission center for reporting on and broadcasting the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, but also the headquarters during the Games for the IOC media operation, the Olympic Broadcasting Services, and the media operation of Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee.

The façade of the building is covered by white curtain walls with large transparent glass. “The curtain walls are mainly made with enameled steel sheets. It’s the first time that automotive moulding technology has been used for the curtain wall façade. The triangles are shaped and arranged like a flock of birds, indicating the harmonious relations with nature.” said Zhang Lidong, Director of the Engineering Department of Beijing Beichen Convention & Exhibition Investment Company. During the Winter Olympics, journalists from all over the world will enjoy the sunlight in the shape of “flying birds” shining through the staggered triangles on the curtain walls.

Various serving robots providing 24/7 services

The Phase II project is located just across the road from the first phase of the National Convention Center. The biggest difference lies in that during the Games, Phase II will showcase a series of intelligent applications. A number of servicing robots for food delivery, item delivery, location guidance, disinfection, and waste cleaning will make their debut, creating "unmanned" digital service scenarios and providing services 24/7 for journalists and rights-holding broadcasters. For example, the epidemic prevention robots can carry out patrol and disinfection on their own. The waste cleaning robots can automatically shuttle between the designated waste disposal site and the temporary waste storage site based on their storage capacity.

In terms of COVID-19 prevention and control, the National Convention Center Phase II will use a video surveillance intelligent analysis system based on the intelligent COVID-19 response platform during the Games. The restaurant providing catering services for the media will also be a "smart restaurant". The robot-based restaurant has a total area of about 6,000 square meters, which is divided into a Western fast food area and a Chinese fast food area. Once put into operation, there will be about 120 robots cooking burgers, fried food, clay pot rice and snacks with the capacity of serving thousands of guests simultaneously.

Post-Games use of the venue for high-end political events and diplomatic activities

After the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are concluded, the construction of the project will continue. The main part is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2023, and all the business plans will be completed by June 30, 2025. Upon completion, the two phases of the National Convention Center will jointly form a world-class convention and exhibition complex with a total area of over 1.3 million square meters. It will meet the demand for high-end political events and diplomatic activities, and serve the need for large-scale international exchange activities and business conventions and exhibitions.

(Reporter: Ren Shan)