"China Achieves 100% Artificial Snow for First Time in Olympic History... Skiers Keep Falling"

"Water Used Equivalent to What 100 Million People Could Drink in One Day"

Ski resort and bobsleigh track of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics viewed from a satellite. / Photo by NASA Earth Observatory

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The competition slopes made of '100% artificial snow' located at the ski and bobsleigh venues of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics have been captured by NASA satellites.

NASA released photos taken by the Earth observation satellite Landsat 8 on the 29th of last month, a week before the Olympic opening. The photos show white slopes covered with artificial snow, contrasting with the dark-colored surrounding mountains.

The location shown in the photos is the Xiaohaituo mountain area in the northwest of Yanqing, about 90 km north of downtown Beijing. This area hosts sliding sports such as skeleton and luge, as well as alpine skiing venues, but the average snowfall in February is only 330mm.

Therefore, the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee and Chinese authorities produced artificial snow to supplement the insufficient natural snow. As a result, this is the first time in Olympic history that 100% artificial snow is used.

The Organizing Committee installed about 300 'artificial snow makers' in various locations to produce a massive amount of artificial snow. According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the amount of water used to make artificial snow during this Olympics is 2 million cubic meters, enough for 100 million people to drink for one day.

There have also been criticisms that artificial snow makers harm the ecosystem. The chemicals added to maximize the snow's lifespan and the noise generated are said to have adverse environmental effects.

In response, the Chinese government announced that the electricity used for the ski resorts and other Winter Olympic facilities would be sourced from 100% renewable energy such as wind power and solar panels. However, the ski resort passes through the core area of the Songshan Nature Reserve, designated in 1985, leading to criticism that it is a case of 'covering the eyes while stealing the candy.'

Mikaela Shiffrin fell during her first run in the women's alpine skiing giant slalom event held on the 7th and was disqualified.
Photo by AP Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the results of competitions held on 100% artificial snow may differ from those on natural snow. Natural snow contains over 90% air, but artificial snow contains only about 70% air.

Because of this, artificial snow has smaller particle sizes and is more densely packed. Competitions on artificial snow slopes tend to have higher speeds and greater injury risks.

In fact, during the women's alpine skiing giant slalom on the 7th, several athletes were injured, and many had difficulty finishing the race. Nearly half of the 80 participants fell, and only 49 completed the course.

Among them was Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States, a strong gold medal contender in this competition. She fell twice during the Olympics and tearfully said, "I don't know why."

Anderson of the U.S. snowboard team said, "It feels like bulletproof ice, and I absolutely don't want to fall."

Laura Donaldson, a British freestyle skier who competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, also said, "Courses made entirely of artificial snow are much harder than natural snow," adding, "They are very dangerous for athletes and could be fatal."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.