Photo shows China’s ‘dystopian’ Winter Olympics site fooled us all

A rogue backdrop of an Olympics event left viewers stumped, but there’s more to the scene than its likeness to a nuclear power plant.

Unflattering scenes broadcast during Beijing’s Winter Olympics have left some viewers questioning whether organisers chose an appropriate location for the Games’ big air events.

Surrounding the Games’ monster ski jump are four huge concrete towers that many likened to some kind of “nuclear power plant wasteland”.

Critics have taken issue with the jarring scene’s obvious geographical distance from actual ski slopes, complaining it did nothing to inspire viewers and athletes alike and labelling it “dystopian”.

Watching the big air events on TV you’d be fooled into thinking the competitors were surrounded by snow and mountains — but that’s not the case.

One commentator captured the sentiment of many when they tweeted: “Honestly, what are we even doing here?”

Big Air Shougang Park has been accused of being set in the foreground of a nuclear power plant. Picture: Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images

Snowboarder Paul O’Brien agreed, saying the display hadn’t once left him wishing he was “out on a mountain”.

“My thoughts exactly. The very best of our beautiful planet is everywhere in winter sports, and this is where they host the Olympics? ‍️Not watched anything so far that made me wish I was out on a mountain, and that ain’t right,” he tweeted.

Bill Enright of Sports Illustrated wrote: “How does the Olympic committee let China get away with putting the big air event in the middle of a nuclear power plant wasteland?”

CBS reporter Nick Starling echoed a similar thought when he retweeted a photo of the ski jump in the foreground of the concrete towers, writing: “Gotta love the nuclear power plant backdrop.”

My thoughts exactly. The very best of our beautiful planet is everywhere in winter sports, and this is where they host the Olympics? 🤦‍♂️ Not watched anything so far that made me wish I was out on a mountain, and that ain't right. https://t.co/STqxZVPoEs

— Paul O'Brien (@PaulOBrien) February 8, 2022

Gotta love the nuclear power plant backdrop... https://t.co/7LLI0FyPZw

— Nick Starling (@NickStarlingTV) February 8, 2022

Not everyone was so harsh, however, with others left stumped over what the big deal was.

British freestyle skier Kirsty Muir said: “The venue is amazing and the bigger jump is so wild, it’s such a cool place to have the jump in.”

French freestyle skier Antoine Adelisse said the venue had grown on him. “The first time I was on the top I was a bit disappointed, because when we’re at the top we usually see lots of mountains. But when the lights get on it’s really amazing,” he said.

One journalist said people taking issue with the concrete backdrop were “losers”. Another US viewer joked the power plant was to be envied, not despised.

“This photo makes me so mad. WE should have nuclear reactors next to our ski slopes,” they wrote alongside a picture of the ski jump.

Losers reacting to a photo of a temporary ramp by a repurposed power plant: “Dystopic!”

Me and other cool folk: “Dis pic dope!” pic.twitter.com/2e0bzKuJUM

— justin caffier (@JustinCaffier) February 8, 2022

While a huge volume of viewers seemed convinced the concrete towers had sinister ties, there was actually a far more reasonable explanation behind them.

Big Air Shougang Park, the only snow event in downtown Beijing, forms part of a redevelopment project set to become the world’s first permanent venue for big air events.

The site was formerly host to a 100-year-old former steelworks operation run by state-owned Shougang Group, which employed thousands and saw China become a world leader for steel production.

However, having been a major air polluter, it was shut down ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics hosted in the city.

The zone has been transformed into a hub of office buildings, sport facilities and cafes, including the Beijing 2022 headquarters.

The grounds are now abundant in grassy lawns, greenery, and ponds, while one of the smokestacks has even been transformed into a modern event space.