A skater competes during the speed skating test program at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Competition organization was put to test during the "Experience Beijing" ice sports testing program and the result was fruitful as the 10-day event concluded on Saturday.

By sportswriters Li Jia and Zhang Xiao

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Standing in the National Speed Skating Oval and watching young athletes skating on the shiny rink, China's former speed skating world champion Wang Beixing had mixed emotions.

She was partially jealous of those young athletes who had the chance to set their skate blades on the brand new rink. And meanwhile she felt very glad as the testing program in the venue, known as the "Ice Ribbon," was going as smoothly as the athletes skated on the gleaming ice.

Following the successful testing program on snow in February, the "Experience Beijing" ice sports testing series for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, consisting of five Olympic events and two para events, got underway between April 1 and 10 in five different competition venues, including the National Speed Skating Oval where the 36-year-old Wang works as the stadium's sports director.

"The testing program in the 'Ice Ribbon' had three priorities. First is the ice, we need to make sure the ice will be of perfect quality during the Winter Olympics next year," Wang said. "The second would be the competition facilities including the safety cushions, training equipment and so on, which are most relevant to the athletes, and we want feedback from them."

"Thirdly, we also need to drill on the operation teams," she said. "I feel very glad because the mock competition went well and as for the three priorities, I am satisfied for the result of the rehearsals."