Two white square buildings that look like two Cubes. World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 will be held in Nanjing from 21 to 23 March next year, the venue is located in the Nanjing Sports Training Centre in the Jiangbei New District, which is the first venue in China to be equipped to host the World Indoor Athletics Championships. Competition is about to enter the 100-day countdown, Nanjing's Cube in the preparation for how?Reporters saw yesterday at the scene, the indoor track and field stadium facade using aluminium alloy plate, the different hole size of the aluminium alloy plate is divided into seven modules, covered with staggered, different sizes of the ‘small triangular’ shape of the glass, to the evening can also be lighted up lights, full of rhythm and a sense of science and technology.

‘The big ‘Cube’ is the competition hall, and the small ‘Cube’ is the indoor warm-up hall.’ Yu Tao, a staff member of the Venue Department of World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 Organising Committee, introduced that the competition hall has a floor area of about 9,000 square metres with a net height of 16 metres, while the warm-up hall has a floor area of about 6,500 square metres with a net height of 8 metres. The two venues are currently being upgraded and are scheduled to be fully constructed in February next year. In addition, there is a platform between the two venues, can achieve the interconnection of the two venues.

Walking into the warm-up hall can be seen, the centre of the arena is a 50m x 25m standard indoor swimming pool, there is a six-lane 60m track by the pool. Athletics competition warm-up hall how to have a swimming pool? Originally, before next year's competition, here will build a steel frame structure and laying materials, so that the pool and the surrounding area to form a plane for track and field athletes warm-up training, rest after the game, and the warm-up hall is connected to the competition hall, athletes, coaches will be on and off the field from here. When the competition is over, the warm-up hall will be restored to the swimming pool, become a swimming programme training venues.

The most eye-catching thing in the Nanjing's Cube is that the entire runway has two ends up, like a ‘Yuanbao’. ‘The straight area of the runway and the ground is flush, but the curved area has a slope of 12 degrees to 15 degrees or so.’ Yu Tao explained that this is to allow athletes to balance the centrifugal force during the race and reduce the risk of injury.

Unlike the outdoor track and field, the indoor track and field has a circumference of 200 metres and only 26 events. Inside the Nanjing's Cube, there are six 200-metre elliptical tracks, eight 60-metre straight tracks and venues for high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump and shot put. The venue is blue in colour, which makes it look more open, and the indoor track is relatively better in terms of flatness and elasticity. ‘It's safer for athletes to compete indoors and easier to race well.’ Yu Tao said.

In next year's competition, technology providers will set up ‘eagle eye’ systems, timing and scoring systems, motion capture systems and other equipment in the stadium, which will not only help referees make decisions on results, but also capture the athletes' exciting moments during the race.

‘These equipments will be suspended in the high place of the stadium, and the captured moments of the game will also be broadcast and replayed in real time through the big screen on site.’ Yu Tao revealed.

The entire arena can accommodate 3,200 spectators to watch the game. There is still some time to go before the start of the competition, and many track and field fans are already eagerly waiting for it. ‘The indoor track and field meet will have a better viewing experience.’ Yu Tao said that in terms of viewing effect, indoor races look more enjoyable than outdoor races. In terms of grandstand setup, grandstands for outdoor track and field events are generally farther away from the competition venue, while spectator seats for indoor events are closer to the athletes. ‘When we set up the grandstand will find that the first row of the grandstand is only 2-3 metres from the track, the front row of spectators is basically sitting on the side of the track to watch the race, and the athletes are ‘zero distance’, very exciting.’ Yu Tao said.

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