Podiums keep athletes safe

Special ceremony Bing Dwen Dwen mascot attracts envy of fans

With popular mascots on offer and special COVID-19 protocols in place, the podium ceremonies at Beijing 2022 are setting a safe and memorable stage for medalists to savor their glorious moments.

And Beijing 2022's sold-out and much sought after mascot Bing Dwen Dwen, is providing yet another incentive for athletes to strive for victory.

The privilege these athletes have of earning a Bing Dwen Dwen figure has sparked widespread excitement online with many netizens expressing their regret at not having taken up a winter sport.

Bing Dwen Dwen, a panda cub dressed in a full-body ice shell, has become a hot commodity among Games participants and ordinary followers because of its cute and chubby appearance, causing a shortage of supply at almost all official retail outlets this week in Beijing.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic organizing committee guaranteed during a media briefing on Wednesday that the offering of a customized gift version of the mascots for medalists won't be affected by the shortage in the market.